zim3 soeng6 fung1佔上風占上风
Jyutpingzim3 soeng6 fung1
Yalejim seuhng fūng
Definition
To have the advantage; to get the upper hand or be in a dominant position.
colloquialpeoplework
How it's used
Used primarily in competitive contexts like sports, debates, or business negotiations to describe a temporary or situational lead. It implies that the situation is fluid and the advantage could still shift back to the opponent. It is a set phrase that functions as a verb phrase, often used with 喺 to specify the domain of the advantage.
Examples
He has the upper hand in this debate.
Which team do you think has the advantage right now?
Related words
Common phrases
to have a complete advantage
to gradually gain the upper hand
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with winning outright, but it only describes having a strategic advantage or being in a stronger position at that moment, not necessarily having already won the game.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
