- 上梁不正下梁歪
- shàngliángbúzhèngxiàliángwāiif the upper beam is not straight, the lower ones will go aslant—when those above behave unworthily, those below will do the same* * *when the above behave wrongly the below will do the same* * *when the above behave wrongly,the below will do the same* * *shang4 liang2 bu4 zheng4 xia4 liang2 wai1lit. If the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked (idiom); fig. subordinates imitate their superiors' vices* * *上梁不正下梁歪shàng liáng bú zhèng xià liáng wāiIf the upper beam is not straight, the lower ones will go aslant.; A crooked stick will have a crooked shadow.; Fish begins to stink at the head.; If a leader sets a bad example, it will be followed by his subordinates.; When those above behave unworthily, those below will do the same.* * *上梁不正下梁歪|上梁不正下梁歪 [shàng liáng bù zhèng xià liáng wāi] ► lit. If the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked (idiom); fig. subordinates imitate their superiors' vices
Chinese-English dictionary. Academic. 2013.