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Simplfied Chinese
上梁不正下梁歪
Traditional Chinese
上梁不正下梁歪
Mandarin pinyin pronunciation
shàng liáng bù zhèng xià liáng wāi
Cantonese jyutpin pronunciation
seung6 leung4 bat1 jing3 ha6 leung4 waai1
Short definition People need role models.
Usage frequency Very infrequent
Chinese synonyms Chinese Gratis iconChinese tools icon (Click icons, results will appear below)
 
All available English definitions lit. If the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked (idiom) MDBG icon / fig. subordinates imitate their superiors' vicesMDBG icon / People need role models.Cantofish icon / Leaders of society should set a good example.Cantofish icon/
Copyleft icon Adso icon Adso:
Copyleft icon Cantofish icon Cantofish: If the room beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked (idiom). Subordinates will ape their betters.; Leaders of society should set a good example.; People need role models.
Copyleft icon MDBG icon MDBG: lit. If the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked (idiom); fig. subordinates imitate their superiors' vices
Copyleft icon LDC icon LDC:
Copyleft icon Cdict icon CDict: '
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Sentence examples
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上梁不正下梁歪(shàng liáng bù zhèng xià liáng wāi) People need role models.

A fish rots from the head down.

Example sentences courtesy Tatoeba project.Copyleft icon
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