上梁不正下梁歪shàngliángbùzhèngxiàliángwāiMeanings1. lit. If the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked (idiom); fig. subordinates imitate their superiors' vicesCharacters used上above梁beam不no正just下below歪askewExamples1上梁不正下梁歪shàngliángbùzhèngxiàliángwāi。A fish rots from the head down.