can be counted on the fingers ⇒ 这样的好作家屈指可数。 Zhèyàng de hǎo zuòjiā qūzhǐ kě shǔ. → Good authors like this are few and far between.
首屈一指
be second to none ⇒ 这个大学对微生物领域的研究在全国首屈一指。 Zhège dàxué duì wēishēngwù lǐngyù de yánjiū zài quánguó shǒu qū yī zhǐ. → This university is second to none in this country in the field of micro-organic research.
English translation of '屈'
屈
(qū)
动
(= 弯) bend (pt, pp bent)
(= 服) submit
⇒ 屈服 (qūfú) surrender
(= 冤) wrong
⇒ 你这样说真屈他了。 (Nǐ zhèyàng shuō zhēn qū tā le.) What you said really wronged him.