中国成语故事赏析：宋人献玉

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

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.

Zi Han adamantly refused to accept it.

Thereupon, this man said in honeyed words: "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."

"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."

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

宋国有一个人，喜欢奉承别人。

有一天，他得到了一块未经雕琢的玉石，便去献给宋国大臣子罕，想讨好一番。

子罕执意不受。

于是，那人便花言巧语地说：“这是一块珍奇的玉石啊!我把它当做宝贝，适宜于做君子的器皿。要是落在老先生你的手中，挂在你的身上，放在你的餐桌上，是最相称、最适合的。我是一个粗人，不配使用这种贵重的宝物。”

子罕回答说：“你把这块玉石当做宝贝，我却不接受别人巴结奉承，并且不把这种行为当做宝贝。”

那个宋国人自讨没趣，溜了。