← IDIOMS · STORIES
HSK 7-9
máo毛Maosuí遂Suizì自selfjiàn荐recommend
To volunteer one's services; to recommend oneself.

Literal meaning

Mao (毛) — Sui (遂) — self (自) — recommend (荐)

Origin

This idiom comes from the story of Mao Sui in the Records of the Grand Historian (史记). Mao Sui, a retainer of Lord Pingyuan, recommended himself to join a diplomatic mission to the State of Chu, and successfully persuaded the Chu to form an alliance.

Examples

Zài在zhè这cì次huì会yì议shàng上,tā他máo毛suí遂zì自jiàn荐,chéng承dān担le了zhè这xiàng项zhòng重yào要de的rèn任wù务。
At this meeting, he volunteered his services and took on this important task.
Rú如guǒ果nǐ你yǒu有néng能lì力shèng胜rèn任zhè这xiàng项gōng工zuò作,bù不fáng妨máo毛suí遂zì自jiàn荐。
If you are capable of doing this job, you might as well volunteer your services.

Usage & nuances

Implies confidence and willingness to take on responsibility.

Learn idioms by speaking them

Idioms are most useful when they land in a real conversation. Practice them out loud in Kango — get instant feedback on tone and timing.

Download Kango on iOS