Fortune favors the bold; first-mover advantage

Seng hē chhiú ûi kiông

Literally: First to move (down) hand is strong

All-weather

Choân thin-hāu

——————-

Iú-thú ē-tàng ùi nn̄g bān chi̍t chheng kong-chhioh ko-khong choân thin-hāu chip-chêng cheng-chhat jīm-bū.

The U2 can undertake high-altitude reconnaissance missions from 21,000 meters in all weather.

Everything you could want; (of a store or other place) have everything one needs

Èng ū chīn ū

Literally: Should have totally have

Also:

Bû só͘  put iú

Literally: Nothing which not have

Bandwidth

Pîn-khoan

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Bāng-lō͘ pîn-khoan ē chhú-tāi chio̍h-iû, sêng-ûi chiòng-lâng cheng-toa̍t ê sin o͘-kim.

Internet bandwidth is going to supplant oil as the new “black gold” that everyone will be fighting over.

It takes money to make money; you need to spend to earn

Thau lia̍h ke iā tio̍h chi̍t pé bí

Literally: to steal a chicken, still need a handful of rice.

Rip off; pass off inferior goods as something better

Koà iûⁿ-thâu, bē káu-bah

Literally: Hang a sheep’s head (but) sell dog meat.

Fat profits don’t last long

Tâi-oân bô saⁿ ji̍t ê hó kong-kéng

Literally: Taiwan, (you) get three good days (circumstances) at most.

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I’ve often noticed this about Taiwan, both in night markets and in the larger business world: as soon as someone identifies a new market, competitors quickly crowd in. Good for the Market—and one of Taiwan’s economic strengths—but tough on the small business owner.

Speaking of which, this reminds me of another, related business saying:

Saⁿ-kha pō͘, chi̍t-khám tiàm

Literally: (Every) three steps, one store (selling the same thing)

Logistics Center

Ūn-tiû tiong-sim

—————

Hông-hái Chi̍p-thoân Ko-hiông ūn-tiû tiong-sim kè-oē ē hoat-seng piàn-hoà.

The Honhai Group’s plans for a logistics center in Kaohsiung could change.

What you see is what you get; the real deal; in reality as well as name

Bêng hù kî si̍t

Literally: the name matches the reality.

Also:

Hoè chin kè si̍t

Literally: the goods are true the price is real

Personnel expenses

Jîn-sū-hùi

-

Kàng-kē jîn-sū-hùi ê pí-lē

Lower the proportion of personnel expenses