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屈指可數

简屈指可数 · 繁屈指可數

Mandarin · pinyin qū zhǐ kě shǔ

(lit.) can be counted on one's fingers (idiom)
(fig.) very few

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Characters in this entry

屈: qū · bend, flex; bent, crooked; crouch
指: zhǐ · finger, toe; point, indicate
可: kě · may, can, -able; possibly
數: shù · number; several; count; fate
数: shù · number; several, count; fate

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

1–3–3–3 · qu1 zhi3 ke3 shu3

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

屈指可數 · find source passages ↗ · 屈指可数 · find source passages ↗

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

phrase

(idiomatic) can be counted with one's fingers; very few; numbered

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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