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."

　　中國人把當面說奉承話叫做給某人“戴高帽子”。

　　在古代，有一個在京城朝廷里做官的人，奉命去外地做官。臨行前，他去老師家告別。老師叮囑說:“外地的官不容易做，應當謹慎小心些才好。”

　　那個做官的人回答說:“請老師放心，我準備了一百頂高帽子，逢人便送他一頂，管叫地方上人人高興。”

　　老師生氣地說:“我們都是正人君子，怎么可以這樣做呢?”

　　那個做官的人裝著無可奈何的樣子說:“天下不喜歡戴高帽子的人實在太少了??！像老師您這樣的又能有幾個呢！”

　　老師聽了很高興，點點頭說:“你講的也不錯！”

　　那個做官的人告別老師出來后，對朋友說:“我的一百頂高帽子，現(xiàn)在只剩下九十九頂了！”