Yubiori (指折り - One of the Best)

Yubiori

Human beings sometimes bend their fingers one by one when counting something.

To count something by bending fingers is referred to as 'yubiori' (指折り) or 'yubi wo oru' (指を折る) in Japanese.

Literally, 'yubi' (指) means "finger" and 'ori/oru' (折る) means "to bend something" or "to fold something."

However, this term has another meaning -- it is "one of the best," because you can count the top five on your one hand fingers.

[Example] 'Kare wa nihon de yubiori no pianisuto da' (彼は日本で指折りのピアニストだ - "He is one of the best pianists in Japan").

指折り

人間は何かの数を数えるとき、手の指を順番に折り曲げていくことがあります。

指を折り曲げながら数えることを、日本語で「指折り」もしくは「指を折る」と言います。

文字どおり、「指」は "finger"、「折り/折る」は "to bend" を意味します。

しかし、「指折り/指を折る」にはもう一つ、「数多くある中で、特に指を折って数えられるほど優れている」という意味もあります。

【例文】彼は日本で指折りのピアニストだ。

>>指折りのピアニストだ
thanks Toruさん, very helpful. one of the best five in jp!

• Human beings sometimes bend their fingers one by one when counting something.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• To count something by bending fingers is referred to as 'yubiori' (指折り) or 'yubi wo oru' (指を折る) in Japanese.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• Literally, 'yubi' (指) means "finger" and 'ori/oru' (折る) means "to bend something" or "to fold something."
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• However, this term has another meaning -- it is "one of the best," because you can count the top five on your one hand fingers.
• However, this term has another meaning -- it is "one of the best," because you can count the top five on your the fingers of one hand fingers.

Interesting entry.