首屈一指
shǒu qū yī zhǐ
second to none; number one
Character by character
首shǒu
first
first
屈qū
bend
bend
一yī
one
one
指zhǐ
finger
finger
Example
这所大学的医学专业在全国首屈一指。
This university’s medical school is second to none in the country.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
You bend the thumb first when counting on your fingers.
Learn this in Lesson 52 · HSK 6: 中国经济的版图 (The economic map)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. This lesson is free.
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