A lot of water and long cooking make the soup mixed with many flavor and aroma components. According to different seasonings, soup can play the role of appetizing, whole dish, hydrating and relieving boredom. Foods with light taste, such as tofu, rice noodles and shark's fin, are often served with fresh soup.

Some leftovers that are not suitable for direct consumption are fully utilized by making soup, especially boiled clear soup. For example, Beijing roast duck often ends up with soup made of duck skeleton.

Chinese food may be served with soup at any time during the meal, while western food is served with soup first, and then with appetizers. Both Japan and the Korean peninsula are eating and drinking soup.