首屈一指

Chinese

 
head; chief; first (occasion); first (thing); measure word for poems
bent; feel wronged
 
one; single; a; (before verbs) as soon as, once; (before a noun) entire (family, etc.)
 
finger; to point; to direct; to indicate
simp. and trad.
(首屈一指)
Literally: “the first bent finger”.

Etymology

In Chinese culture, one common method of counting is to begin with an open hand, then begin folding the fingers into the palm starting with the thumb.

Pronunciation


Idiom

首屈一指

  1. first
  2. number one; come first on the list; be matchless; be second to none; come out first; thumbs up
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