Definition
This is a four-character idiomatic expression (chengyu) meaning 'very few' — literally 'can be counted on one's fingers.' It emphasizes that something is so scarce you can count them easily. Use it as a predicate or attributive to describe limited numbers, people, or occasions.
f.e.
very few (lit. can be counted on one's fingers)
Examples
- 屈指可数。Xiàng tā zhèyàng de réncái shízài qū zhǐ kě shǔ.People with his talent are truly few and far between.
- 屈指可数。Néng qǔdé rúcǐ chéngjiù de kēxuéjiā qū zhǐ kě shǔ.The scientists who achieve such accomplishments are very few.
- ，屈指可数。Zài tā de yìshēng zhōng, kuàilè de rìzi qū zhǐ kě shǔ.In his life, happy days were few and far between.
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