Chinese Idiom: 脱颖而出 (Tuo Ying Er Chu)
English Translation: Emerge from the tip of a sharp point
pīn yīn: tuō yǐng ér chū
Idiom Meaning: This idiom metaphorically refers to someone’s talents or abilities being fully displayed or revealed.
Historical Source: From “Records of the Grand Historian” (《史记》), specifically the biography of Pingyuan Jun and Yu Qing.
Idiom Story:
In 260 BC, during the Warring States period, the State of Zhao faced a disastrous defeat in the Battle of Changping, where over 400,000 troops led by Zhao Kuo were annihilated. The Qin army advanced rapidly, surrounding Zhao’s capital city, Handan, putting Zhao in imminent danger. In response, King Zhao Xiaocheng hurriedly sent his brother, Pingyuan Jun Zhao Sheng, to the State of Chu to seek assistance.
As this matter was crucial for Zhao’s survival, Pingyuan Jun decided to take twenty of his most capable officials with him. After carefully selecting from his thousands of followers, he chose nineteen but struggled to find a twentieth. At that moment, a man named Mao Sui stepped forward and recommended himself, saying, “I hear you are going to Chu to form alliances and need one more person. I hope to join you and complete the number.”
Pingyuan Jun, not knowing Mao Sui, asked, “How long have you been with me?”
Mao Sui replied, “Three years.”
Pingyuan Jun shook his head, saying, “Three years? That’s not acceptable! A talented person is like a needle in a bag; its sharp tip will eventually show itself. You’ve been with me for three years, yet I’ve never heard anyone mention you. This means you must lack ability, so you should stay home.”
Mao Sui calmly countered, “I am here today to ask you to put me in the bag. If I had been in the bag earlier, I would not just have shown my tip, but I would have been fully revealed, just like a grain of millet bursting from its husk.”
Ultimately, Pingyuan Jun agreed to take Mao Sui along. At first, the other nineteen members did not regard Mao Sui seriously. However, when the negotiations between Zhao and Chu reached a stalemate, Mao Sui bravely stood up, drawing his sword, and eloquently articulated the principles of justice in front of the imposing King of Chu. His passionate words persuaded the King to immediately form an alliance with Pingyuan Jun.
Soon after, reinforcements from Chu and Wei attacked the Qin army from both sides, breaking the siege of Handan.
Afterward, Pingyuan Jun reflected, “Mao Sui’s three-inch tongue is worth more than a hundred thousand soldiers. Once he arrived in Chu, our Zhao’s reputation greatly increased. Although I thought I had assessed my talents well, I completely misjudged him.”
