上梁不正下梁歪

shàng liáng bù zhèng xià liáng wāi

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Definitions

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

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Child Words of 上梁不正下梁歪

• 下 下 xià: down
• 不 不 bù: no; not so
• 正 正 zhēng: first month of the lunar year
• 正 正 zhèng: straight
• 歪 歪 wāi: askew
• 上梁 上梁 shàng liáng: to lay an upper beam
• 梁 梁 liáng: roof beam
• 上 上 shàng: on top