Master 0sifu Folktale: Presentinga tall hat

The Chinese people call flattery to someone’s face ‘presenting atall hat’ to someone.

中国人把当面说奉承话叫做给某人“戴高帽子”。

 

In the past, an official in the imperial court in Beijing was appointed to an official postoutside the capital. Before departure, he went to his teacher's home to bidfarewell. His teacher warned him: "It is not easy to be an officialoutside the capital. You should be prudent and careful."

在古代,有一个在京城朝廷里做官的人,奉命去外地做官。临行前,他去老师家告别。老师叮嘱说:“外地的官不容易做,应当谨慎小心些才好。”

 

The official replied: "Please don't worry. I have prepared 100'tall hats', and will present one to each and every person I meet. I'm sure allthe local people will be pleased."

那个做官的人回答说:“请老师放心,我准备了一百顶高帽子,逢人便送他一顶,管叫地方上人人高兴。”

 

The teacher said reproachingly: "We are all honest gentlemen.How can you do that?"

老师生气地说:“我们都是正人君子,怎么可以这样做呢?”

 

The official pretended he had no way out and said: "Very fewpeople under heaven are like you who dislike being flattered or presented withtall hats."

那个做官的人装着无可奈何的样子说:“天下不喜欢戴高帽子的人实在太少了啊!像老师您这样的又能有几个呢!”

 

Hearing this, the teacher was very much pleased. He nodded and said:"What you said is true, too."

After the official said farewell to his teacher and went out, hesaid to his friend: "Of my 100 'tall hats', now only 99 are left."

老师听了很高兴,点点头说:“你讲的也不错!”

那个做官的人告别老师出来后,对朋友说:“我的一百顶高帽子,现在只剩下九十九顶了!”

 

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