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.
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