指折(ゆびお)り

ゆびおり
noun
leading; prominent; one of the best
descriptive
1. leading; prominent; one of the best; top-ranking
Among the very best in a group or field. The image is of counting the top items on one's fingers — so few that they can be counted on one hand.
日本(にほん)指折(ゆびお)りの名店(めいてん)だ。
It's one of the top restaurants in Japan.
彼(かれ)は業界(ぎょうかい)指折(ゆびお)りの実力者(じつりょくしゃ)だ。
He is one of the leading figures in the industry.
世界(せかい)でも指折(ゆびお)りの技術力(ぎじゅつりょく)を持(も)つ企業(きぎょう)だ。
It's a company with technological capabilities among the best in the world.
2. counting on one's fingers
The literal act of counting by folding fingers, often while eagerly anticipating something.
旅行(りょこう)の日(ひ)を指折(ゆびお)り数(かぞ)えて待(ま)っている。
I'm counting the days on my fingers, waiting for the trip.

Sense 1 uses the pattern 〜指折(ゆびお)りの: 日本(にほん)指折(ゆびお)りの (one of Japan's best), 世界(せかい)指折(ゆびお)りの (among the world's best). Sense 2 uses the pattern 指折(ゆびお)り数(かぞ)える (to count on one's fingers), typically while eagerly awaiting something. Both senses derive from the image of folding fingers to count — the first implies something so exceptional it can be counted among the select few.

general
Added 2026.3.19 21:23 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
18000/18050_yubiori