五ご本ほんの指ゆびに入はいる

Meanings

1

expression, godan verb (-ru)

to be among the top five; to be one of the five best

idiomatic expression

Idiomatic expression used when someone or something ranks within the top five in a given category or comparison.

彼かれの実じつ力りょくはチームで五ご本ほんの指ゆびに入はいる。
His ability is among the top five in the team.
この

レストラン

は

市し

内ない

で

五ご

本ほん

の

指ゆび

に

入はい

る

美味おい

しさ

だ

。

This restaurant is one of the five best in the city.

Kanji

五five
本book, present, main
指finger, point to, indicate
入enter, insert

Similar words

トップクラス
トップクラス means 'top class' in a broader sense, while 五本の指に入る specifically refers to being within the top five.
上じょう位い
上位 is a general term for 'high rank' or 'upper level', not limited to a specific number like five.

Written forms

五ご本ほんの指ゆびに入はいる
Standard kanji spelling for this idiomatic expression.
５ご本ほんの指ゆびに入はいる
Numerical variant using Arabic numeral 5; common in casual writing.

Etymology

Literally 'to enter into the five fingers', an idiomatic expression based on counting on one hand. The exact origin is uncertain, but it likely derives from the common practice of using fingers to list top items.