shàng liáng bù zhèng xià liáng wāi

上梁不正下梁歪 (shàng liáng bù zhèng xià liáng wāi) is a Chinese word meaning “lit. If the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked (idiom); fig. subordinates imitate their superiors' vices”.

Meanings

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

Characters in 上梁不正下梁歪

上shǎng · used in 上聲|上声[shang3 sheng1]梁liáng · roof beam不bù · no; not so正zhēng · first month of the lunar year下xià · down梁liáng · roof beam歪wāi · askew

Related words

不no; not so上used in 上聲|上声[shang3 sheng1]上(bound form) up; upper; above; previous下down一下(after a verb) a bit; a little (indicating brief duration, or softening the tone, or suggesting giving sth a try)不过only不要don't!; must not对不起I'm sorry; excuse me; I beg your pardon正first month of the lunar year正straight不错correct上帝God

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