宋人獻玉中英雙語寓言故事範例

There was a man of the State of Song who liked to curry favour with others.

宋國有一個人，喜歡奉承別人。

One day, he got a piece of uncarved jade and went to present it to Zi Han, a minister of the State of Song, with the intention to ingratiate himself with the official.

有一天，他得到了一塊未經雕琢的`玉石，便去獻給宋國大臣子罕，想討好一番。

Zi Han adamantly refused to accept it.

子罕執意不受。

Thereupon, this man said in honeyed words:

於是，那人便花言巧語地說：

"This is a piece of rare jade. I regard it as a treasure suitable for a gentleman's utensil. If it gets into the hands of an old gentleman like you, to be worn by you or put on your dining table, that would be most suitable and fitting. I am an unrefined man, not deserving such a valuable treasure."

“這是一塊珍奇的玉石啊！我把它當做寶貝，適宜於做君子的器皿。要是落在老先生你的手中，掛在你的身上，放在你的餐桌上，是最相稱、最適合的。我是一個粗人，不配使用這種貴重的寶物。”

"You may regard this piece of jade as a treasure," said Zi Han, "but I do not accept other's fawning, nor do I regard this kind of conduct a treasure."

子罕回答說：

The man of Song felt he had asked for a snub and sneaked away.

“你把這塊玉石當做寶貝，我卻不接受別人巴結奉承，並且不把這種行爲當做寶貝。”

那個宋國人自討沒趣，溜了。