毛遂自荐
Máo Suì zì jiàn
to volunteer oneself; to put oneself forward
Character by character
毛Máo
Mao
Mao
遂Suì
Sui
Sui
自zì
himself
himself
荐jiàn
recommends
recommends
Example
公司要派人去新疆开拓市场，小王毛遂自荐，第一个报了名。
When the company needed someone to open up the market in Xinjiang, Xiao Wang volunteered and was the first to sign up.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
From the 史记: when 平原君 of Zhao chose men for a mission to Chu, his retainer 毛遂 put himself forward, then talked the King of Chu into an alliance. Used of offering yourself for a job or task; said of yourself it can sound a little bold.
Learn this in Lesson 198 · HSK 7–9: 村委会选举 (Village elections)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
Open the lesson →