首屈一指
首屈一指 (shǒu qū yī zhǐ) literally means “bend the thumb first” and expresses “foremost; top-ranked”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving success and perseverance.
Also searched as: shou qu yi zhi, shou qu yi zhi,首屈一指 meaning, 首屈一指 in english
Foremost; top-ranked
Pronunciation: shǒu qū yī zhǐ Literal meaning: Bend the thumb first
Origin & Usage
Chinese counts by folding fingers down rather than raising them, and the thumb (首指) goes first. So to be the one bent (屈) first is to be counted first — position one in the enumeration. The metaphor is about ranking rather than praise, which gives the phrase its slightly official flavour: it belongs to league tables, industry standing and formal introductions. It claims a place at the top of a list, and it implies the list exists and someone has drawn it up.
Examples
English: "In the world of technology, she is truly a leader, standing out above all others."
Chinese: 在科技界，她首屈一指，无人能及。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about success & perseverance
不屈不挠
bù qū bù náo
Indomitable; unyielding
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昂首挺胸
áng shǒu tǐng xiōng
Walk proudly; show confidence
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举世闻名
jǔ shì wén míng
Global recognition
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举世瞩目
jǔ shì zhǔ mù
Global attention
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流芳百世
liú fāng bǎi shì
Enduring good reputation
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名垂青史
míng chuí qīng shǐ
Eternal legacy
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人定胜天
rén dìng shèng tiān
Human effort can overcome nature
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人才辈出
rén cái bèi chū
Continuous talent emergence
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 首屈一指 mean in English?
首屈一指 (shǒu qū yī zhǐ) literally translates to “Bend the thumb first” and is used to express “Foremost; top-ranked”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Success & Perseverance category.
When is 首屈一指 used?
Situation: In the world of technology, she is truly a leader, standing out above all others.
What is the pinyin for 首屈一指?
The pinyin pronunciation for 首屈一指 is “shǒu qū yī zhǐ”.