名不正言不顺 míng bu zhèng yán bu shùn

DEFINITIONS

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

CHARACTERS

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