上梁不正下梁歪 — “If those in positions of authority set a bad example or act improperly”
上梁不正下梁歪 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “If those in positions of authority set a bad example or act improperly”. Their subordinates or those below them will follow suit and behave similarly. It implies that bad behavior at the top corrupts those below. Literally, “If the upper beam is not straight, the lower beams will be crooked”.
上梁不正下梁歪 Pronunciation and Pinyin
上梁不正下梁歪 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 上梁不正下梁歪
Origin and Story of 上梁不正下梁歪
During the Song Dynasty, Chenzhou experienced a series of natural disasters. The imperial court dispatched corrupt officials Liu Dezong and Yang Jinwu to open granaries and sell grain.
However, they took advantage of their positions for personal gain, inflating grain prices, mixing sand into the grain, and giving insufficient quantities.
The common people were extremely indignant about their behavior but could do nothing but sigh, 'If the upper beam is not straight, the lower beams will also be crooked' (上梁不正下梁歪).
Idioms Related to 上梁不正下梁歪
Synonyms of 上梁不正下梁歪
More idioms starting with 上
- shàng上shàng上xià下xià下throughout an organization or a place
- shàng上xià下yī一xīn心united from top to bottom
- shàng上xià下wéi为nán难difficult from both sides
- shàng上xià下jiāo交kùn困struggling from top to bottom
- shàng上xià下qí其shǒu手collude to manipulate unfairly
- shàng上xià下tóng同xīn心All levels united in spirit
- shàng上xià下tóng同yù欲all levels united in purpose
- shàng上xià下tóng同mén门paternal aunt's husband and niece's husband
- shàng上xià下tiān天guāng光sky and water merge in light
- shàng上xià下dǎ打liang量look someone over carefully
- shàng上xià下fú浮dòng动fluctuate up and down
- shàng上xià下xiāng相ān安superiors and subordinates coexist peacefully
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Open the tool →Questions about 上梁不正下梁歪
What does 上梁不正下梁歪 mean?
上梁不正下梁歪 (shàng liáng bù zhèng xià liáng wāi) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “If those in positions of authority set a bad example or act improperly”.
How do you pronounce 上梁不正下梁歪?
上梁不正下梁歪 is pronounced shàng liáng bù zhèng xià liáng wāi in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 上梁不正下梁歪 literally mean?
Literally, 上梁不正下梁歪 means “If the upper beam is not straight, the lower beams will be crooked”. It is used to mean “If those in positions of authority set a bad example or act improperly”.
Where does 上梁不正下梁歪 come from?
上梁不正下梁歪 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 上梁不正下梁歪?
上梁：指上级或长辈。比喻在上的人行为不正，下面的人也跟着做坏事。