the first is best; nothing surpasses the original
Proverb meaning that the first in a series (especially a first spouse or first love) is better than any that follow. Literally 'there is no branch that surpasses the main trunk'. Used to express that one's first partner or original thing is irreplaceable.
There is a proverb that says 'the first is best'.
He remarried, but he missed his former wife, saying that the first is best.
Standard kanji form using 勝る for 'surpass'.
Variant with まさる in kana; less common but still encountered.
A traditional Japanese proverb. The literal meaning is 'there is no branch (末木) that surpasses (勝る) the main trunk (本木)', metaphorically expressing that the original or first thing is superior to later ones. The exact origin is uncertain, but it reflects a common cultural value of prizing the original or first experience.