上梁不正下梁歪 shàng liáng bù zhèng xià liáng wāi

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. If the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked (idiom); fig. subordinates imitate their superiors' vices

CHARACTERS

上 shàng
HSK 1
top; superior, highest; go up, send up
梁 liáng
HSK 6
bridge; beam; rafters; surname
不 bù
HSK 1
no, not; un-; negative prefix
正 zhèng
HSK 2
right, proper, correct
下 xià
HSK 1
under, underneath, below; down; inferior; bring down
梁 liáng
HSK 6
bridge; beam; rafters; surname
歪 wāi
HSK 5
slant; inclined; askewd, awry