tau4 pun4頭盤头盘

Jyutpingtau4 pun4

Yaletàuh pùhn

Definition

Appetizer, starter, or first course of a meal.

colloquialfood

How it's used

Used primarily in the context of Western-style dining where a meal is structured into courses. While it refers to the first course, it is distinct from the concept of 點心 or 小食 which are often shared among a group rather than served as an individual starter.

Measure word

go3個go

Examples

le1呢gaan1間caan1餐teng1廳ge3嘅tau4頭pun4盤hou2好ceot1出sik1色。

The entrées at this restaurant are excellent.

nei5你dei6哋soeng2想giu3叫bin1邊fun2款tau4頭pun4盤aa4呀？

Which entrée would you guys like to order?

Common phrases

giu3叫tau4頭pun4盤

to order an entrée

zing1精syun2選tau4頭pun4盤

chef's special entrée

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with the Mandarin term 前菜, which is also understood in Hong Kong but is more commonly used for cold appetizers or small side dishes in Chinese cuisine.