上梁不正下梁歪

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

used in 上聲|上声[shang3 sheng1]

(bound form) up; upper; above; previous / first (of multiple parts) / to climb; to get onto; to go up / to attend (class or university) / (directional complement) up / (noun suffix) on; above

to lay an upper beam / (a building's) upper beam / (a bicycle's) top tube

Liang Dynasty (502-557) / Later Liang Dynasty (907-923) / surname Liang

roof beam / beam (structure) / bridge

variant of 梁[liang2]

no; not so / (bound form) not; un-

first month of the lunar year

straight / upright / proper / main / principal / to correct / to rectify / exactly / just (at that time) / right (in that place) / (math.) positive

down / downwards / below / lower / later / next (week etc) / second (of two parts) / to decline / to go down / to arrive at (a decision, conclusion etc) / measure word to show the frequency of an action

askew / at a crooked angle / devious / noxious / (coll.) to lie on one's side

to sprain (one's ankle) (Tw)