sau3 tin4 mou5 jan4 gaang1, gaang1 hoi1 jau5 jan4 zaang1瘦田冇人耕，耕開有人爭瘦田冇人耕，耕开有人争
Definition
Something that is initially ignored, but becomes highly sought after once someone starts doing it or makes it successful.
How it's used
This proverb captures the fickle nature of human interest and the tendency for people to follow trends rather than recognize potential early on. It is frequently used in business or social contexts to critique bandwagon behavior where individuals only show interest in an opportunity once someone else has already put in the hard work to make it viable.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal comment on farming, but it is almost exclusively used metaphorically to describe social or professional situations. Do not use it to describe actual agricultural land unless you are intentionally making a witty, sarcastic remark about a business opportunity.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
