expression
a lazy person's ambition doesn't last
Proverb meaning that a habitually lazy person may suddenly become motivated and work hard for a short time, but it never lasts.
彼は無精者の一時働きで、三日坊主に終わった。
He was just a lazy person working hard for a moment, and it ended as a three-day wonder.
無精者の一時働きにならないように、毎日少しずつ続けることが大切だ。
To avoid being a flash in the pan, it's important to keep at it a little every day.
三日坊主 refers to someone who gives up after only three days, while 無精者の一時働き emphasizes that the person is inherently lazy and their sudden effort is temporary.
The phrase is composed of 無精者 (lazy person), の (possessive particle), 一時 (one time, temporary), and 働き (work). The exact origin is uncertain, but it is a traditional Japanese proverb.