戴高帽
原文喜人面谀者曰“喜戴高帽”。
有京朝官出任于外者,往辞其师。师诫之曰:“外官为之不易,慎之。”其人曰:“某备有高帽一百,诣尊长,逢人则送其一,不吝也,当不至有所龃龉.。”师怒曰:“吾辈直道事人,岂可谀人如此!”其人曰:“天下恶戴高帽如吾师者,能有几人欤?”师颔其首曰:“诚哉,斯言!”
其人出,语人曰:“吾备高帽一百,未赠已损一顶。”
译文通常把当面奉承让人高兴的话叫做“戴高帽”。有个京官要到外地去任职,离京前去和他的老师告别。他的老师说:“外面的官不容易做,应当谨慎些。”那人说:“我准备了一百顶高帽,逢人就送他一顶,应当不至于有关系不融洽的人。”老师生气的说:“我们以正直的原则侍奉上级,给别人做事,为什么要这样呢?”那人说:“天下像老师您这样不喜欢戴高帽的人,能有几人呢?”老师点了点头说:“你的话也不是没有道理。”那个人出来后对别人说:“我有一百顶高帽子,现在只剩九十九顶了。”
这个故事说明当局者迷。后用以比喻对人说恭维的话。
注释
1.京朝官:在京城朝廷任职的官。
2.某;自称谦词。
3.龃龉:意见不合,不融洽。
4.直道事人:以正直的原则侍奉上级,给别人做事。
5.见:见识。
6.欤:呢。句末疑问语气词。
7.颔 首:点头。
8.语:告诉
9.止:通“只”
英语
we call it "courtier" when flattering someone in the spot. a student say goodbye to his master(senior officer) before he leave Beijing for taking a post in another place.The master say:"it is troublesome to be a officer in the provinceal capital.
the student reply:" Don't worry, master, I have been ready one hundred courtiers and I will give the person I met one courtier,which must satisfy the local persons.
The teacher scold the student seriously:"we are all the well-educated persons, how can you do such a thing?
The student pretend to show the embarrassing face and say:"there are few persons who dislike being flattered and there are few perons like you.
The teacher feel happy after listening, nodding and say:"you are so correct!
Before leaving beiJing, this student tells his friends:"I have prepared for one hundred courtiers while they are 99 ones left.
The story has tell us that Outsiders see more than insiders,which afterward is used to say compliment word to other persons