首屈一指 (shǒu qū yī zhī) — second to none; top-notch; the very best

Definition

Set idiom meaning 'top of the list, second to none' — used to call out a single best in its field. Fits a more formal, written register than everyday praise like 很好.

idiom
second to nonetop-notchthe very best

Examples

  • 首屈一指，。
    Tā zài zhè ge lǐng yù shǒu qū yī zhī, méi yǒu rén néng bǐ de shàng.
    He is second to none in this field; no one can match him.
  • 首屈一指。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī de chǎn pǐn zhì liàng zài háng yè nèi shǒu qū yī zhī.
    This company's product quality is top-notch in the industry.
  • ，首屈一指。
    Tán dào zhōng guó diàn yǐng, zhè bù zuò pǐn kān chēng shǒu qū yī zhī.
    When it comes to Chinese cinema, this work can be considered the very best.

Origin

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape comes from an old drawing of an animal's head, showing a long mouth and horns; the version with hair became 首.

Open 首 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
尾尾wěitail
Sound part声符shēngfú
出
出chū屈qū
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

屈 was built from 出 for sound and 尾 for tail; the tail part later changed into the top of 屈.

Open 屈 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

一 is drawn as one horizontal stroke, marking the number one.

Open 一 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
旨
旨zhǐ指zhǐ
Same sound today

The left part 扌 is the hand form 手. The right part 旨 gives the sound.

Open 指 →

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