Definition
毛遂自荐 is a four-character idiom from the Warring States period, based on the story of Mao Sui who volunteered himself as an envoy. You use it when someone actively offers their own services for a task or position — it carries a positive, confident tone. Unlike its literal translation "Mao Sui recommends himself", the idiom works as a predicate meaning "to volunteer one's services".
f.e.
to volunteer one's servicesto recommend oneself for a task
Examples
- ,毛遂自荐。Tā hěn yǒu xìnxīn, zhǔdòng Máo Suì zì jiàn cānjiā zhè cì bǐsài.He was very confident and proactively volunteered to take part in this competition.
- ,毛遂自荐,。Zài qiúzhí shí, tā yǒnggǎn de Máo Suì zì jiàn, zuìzhōng huòdé le zhège zhíwèi.When job hunting, he bravely volunteered himself and ultimately got the position.
- ,毛遂自荐。Méiyǒu rén yuànyì zuò zhège rènwu, suǒyǐ tā juédìng Máo Suì zì jiàn.No one was willing to do this task, so he decided to volunteer.
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