Key Learning Point (Preview):
毛遂自荐 (Máo Suí zìjiàn) to volunteer for a task; to recommend oneself for a difficult job
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Idiom Story:
Máo Suí zài Zhàoguó dāile sān nián, què yìzhí bú bèi zhòngyòng.
毛 遂 在 赵国 待了 三 年，却 一直 不 被 重用。
In ancient China, there was a man named Mao Sui. He stayed in the country of Zhao for three years with its leaders paying no attention to his humble existence.
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Yícì, Zhàoguó bèi Qínguó jūnduì wéigōng, xūyào xuǎn èrshí gèrén qù Chǔguó qiújiù.
一次，赵国 被 秦国 军队 围攻， 需要 选 20 个 人 去 楚国 求救。
One day, Zhao was attacked by the country of Qin. The Emperor decided to choose 20 men to go to the nearby country of Chu for help.
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Zhàoguó tiāole shíjiǔ gè rén, dàn zuìhòu hái quē yígèrén.
赵国 挑了 19 个 人，但 最后 还 缺 一个人。
After drawn out debate, 19 were chosen, leaving one vacancy.
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Yúshì Máo Suí zhǔdòng shuō: “wǒ kěyǐ.” Dàn dàole Chǔguó, què shǐzhōng tán bù chū jiéguǒ.
于是 毛 遂 主动 说： “我 可以。”但 到了 楚国， 却 始终 谈 不 出 结果。
Mao Sui volunteered simply saying: “I can do the job.” They arrived in Chu. After long and tiresome pleadings no offer of aid was given.
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Máo Suí kàn shíjiān bù děng rén, jiù chōng dào le Chǔwáng miànqián,
毛 遂 看 时间 不 等 人，就 冲 到 了 楚王 面前，
bǎ chū bīng jiù Zhào duì Chǔguó yǒu lì de dàoli xiángxì de fēnxī gěi Chǔwáng tīng.
把 出 兵 救 赵 对 楚国 有 利 的 道理 详细 地 分析 给 楚王 听。
Mao Sui considered the issue as life-and-death, so he rushed to the Emperor of Chu and shrewdly listed the advantages in aiding Zhao.
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Jiéguǒ Chǔwáng dāying mǎshàng chū bīng, Qínjūn hòulái jiù chètuì le.
结果 楚王 答应 马上 出 兵， 秦军 后来 就 撤退 了。
Finally, the emperor of Chu agreed to help, leading to the tyrant army of Qin leaving the country of Zhao.
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Key Learning Point:
毛遂自荐 (Máo Suí zìjiàn) to volunteer for a task; to recommend oneself for a difficult job
“毛遂 (Máo Suí)” is a man’s name; “自荐 (zìjiàn)” means to recommend oneself.
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Examples:
XiǎoMíng jīnnián xuéxí chéngjì zài bānlǐ dìyī, yúshì xiàng lǎoshī Máo Suí zìjiàn dāng
小明 今年 学习 成绩 在 班里 第一，于是 向 老师 毛 遂 自荐 当
xuéxí wěiyuán.
学习 委员。
As the top student in his class, XiaoMing volunteers himself to act as the class representative in charge of studies.
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Lǎo shī: Jīntiān de bānhuì shuí lái Máo Suí zìjiàn zhǔchí yíxià?
老 师: 今天 的 班会 谁 来 毛 遂 自荐 主持 一下？
Teacher: Who wants to volunteer to hold today’s class meeting?
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Emily: Lǎoshī, wǒ lái shìshi ba.
Emily: 老师， 我 来 试试 吧。
Emily: Sir, let me have a go at it.
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