sin1 dou3 sin1 dak1先到先得
Jyutpingsin1 dou3 sin1 dak1
Yalesīn dou sīn dāk
Definition
First come, first served; priority is determined by order of arrival.
colloquialdaily actionsshopping
How it's used
This phrase functions as a fixed idiom to describe situations where resources are limited and priority is given based on arrival time. It is frequently used in marketing and event announcements to manage customer expectations regarding stock availability. Unlike formal written Chinese, it is perfectly natural to use this in spoken Cantonese when discussing queues or limited opportunities.
Examples
This offer is first come first served, hurry up and go queue.
Are the limited edition sneakers first come first served?
Related words
Common phrases
Limited quantity, first come first served
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
