名不正言不順 míng bu zhèng yán bu shùn

DEFINITIONS

  1. (of a title, degree etc) illegitimately conferred

CHARACTERS

名 míng
HSK 1
name, rank, title, position
不 bu
HSK 1
no, not; un-; negative prefix
正 zhèng
HSK 2
right, proper, correct
言 yán
HSK 4
words, speech; speak, say
不 bu
HSK 1
no, not; un-; negative prefix
順 shùn obey, submit to, go along with