tau4 daam6 tong1頭啖湯头啖汤

Jyutpingtau4 daam6 tong1

Yaletàuh daahm tōng

名詞Uncommon

Definition

The first bowl of soup, figuratively referring to the first-mover advantage or being the first to benefit.

colloquialfoodother

How it's used

Originating from the Cantonese culinary tradition of serving the first, most nutritious bowl of soup from a pot, this expression is now used metaphorically to describe any situation where being first provides a significant advantage. It is frequently used in business or competitive contexts to highlight the benefits of being an early adopter or pioneer. Unlike standard idioms, it carries a strong sense of freshness and exclusivity.

Examples

ni1呢go3個gai3計waak6劃bin1邊go3個coeng2搶sin1先zou6做，bin1邊go3個zau6就jam2飲dou3到tau4頭daam6啖tong1湯。

Whoever takes the lead on this project will get the first-mover advantage.

nei5你gam3咁zou2早heoi3去paai4排deoi2隊，hai6係mai6咪soeng2想jam2飲tau4頭daam6啖tong1湯aa3呀？

You are queuing up so early, are you trying to be the first one to get it?

Common phrases

jam2飲tau4頭daam6啖tong1湯

to get the first-mover advantage

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with simply being early. It specifically implies that the first person to arrive or act captures the best or most valuable portion of a resource, similar to the cream of the crop.