毛遂自薦
See also: 毛遂自荐
Chinese
| Mao Sui (BCE 3rd century) |
to recommend oneself | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| trad. (毛遂自薦) | 毛遂 | 自薦 | |
| simp. (毛遂自荐) | 毛遂 | 自荐 | |
Pronunciation
- Mandarin
- (Pinyin): máosuìzìjiàn
- (Zhuyin): ㄇㄠˊ ㄙㄨㄟˋ ㄗˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ
- Cantonese (Jyutping): mou4 seoi6 zi6 zin3
- Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)+
- Hanyu Pinyin: máosuìzìjiàn
- Zhuyin: ㄇㄠˊ ㄙㄨㄟˋ ㄗˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ
- Tongyong Pinyin: máosuèizìhjiàn
- Wade–Giles: mao2-sui4-tzŭ4-chien4
- Yale: máu-swèi-dz̀-jyàn
- Gwoyeu Romatzyh: mausueytzyhjiann
- Palladius: маосуйцзыцзянь (maosujczyczjanʹ)
- Sinological IPA (key): /mɑʊ̯³⁵ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/
- (Standard Chinese)+
- Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)+
- Jyutping: mou4 seoi6 zi6 zin3
- Yale: mòuh seuih jih jin
- Cantonese Pinyin: mou4 soey6 dzi6 dzin3
- Guangdong Romanization: mou4 sêu6 ji6 jin3
- Sinological IPA (key): /mou̯²¹ sɵy̯²² t͡siː²² t͡siːn³³/
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)+
Idiom
毛遂自薦
- to recommend oneself; to put oneself up for a task; to nominate oneself; to volunteer; to offer one's services
Japanese
| Kanji in this term | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 毛 | 遂 | 自 | 薦 |
| もう Grade: 2 |
すい Grade: S |
じ Grade: 2 |
せん Grade: S |
| on'yomi | |||
Etymology
From 毛遂 (mōsui, “Mao Sui, a historical figure”) + 自薦 (jisen, “self-recommendation”). Derived from the story in Shiji where Mao Sui likened himself to a sharp awl that cannot be hidden in a bag.
Pronunciation
Idiom
毛遂自薦 • (mōsuijisen)
- A metaphor for stepping forward to take on a role or task when one has not been noticed before.
Related terms
- 嚢中の錐 (nōchūnokiri, “awl in a bag”)