上行下效 shàng xíng xià xiào

DEFINITIONS

  1. subordinates follow the example of their superiors (idiom)

CHARACTERS

上 shàng
HSK 1
top; superior, highest; go up, send up
行 xíng
HSK 3
go; walk; move, travel; circulate
下 xià
HSK 1
under, underneath, below; down; inferior; bring down
效 xiào
HSK 4
result, effect; effectiveness