The Chinese people call flattery to someone's face "presenting a tall hat" to someone.

 

In the past, an official in the imperial¹ court in Beijing was appointed to an official post outside the capital. Before departure, he went to his teacher's home to bid farewell. His teacher warned him: "It is not easy to be an official outside the capital. You should be prudent² and careful."

 

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 all the local people will be pleased."

 

The teacher said reproachingly³: "We are all honest gentlemen. How can you do that?"

 

The official pretended he had no way out and said: "Very few people under heaven are like you who dislike being flattered⁴ or presented with tall hats."

 

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, he said to his friend: "Of my 100 'tall hats', now only 99 are left."

 

中国人把当面说奉承话叫做给某人“戴高帽子”。

 

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。”

 

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。”

 

老师生气地说:“我们都是正人君子，怎么可以这样做呢?”

 

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！”

 

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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