屈指(くっし)

Common patterns

屈指(くっし) is used as a modifier with の. The typical pattern is X屈指(くっし)のY (one of the top Y in X), where X is a scope (country, world, region) and Y is the thing being praised.

Etymology

Literally "bending the fingers" — the idea of counting the best on one's fingers, implying there are so few at the top that you can count them.

Common collocations

• 日本(にほん)屈指(くっし)の — one of Japan's top/leading
• 世界(せかい)屈指(くっし)の — world-class, world-leading
• 国内(こくない)屈指(くっし)の — one of the country's foremost
• 業界(ぎょうかい)屈指(くっし)の — leading in the industry