名不正言不顺
míng​bù​zhèng​yán​bù​shùn

if the name is not right, then one's words will not be proper

  1. 名 míng noun
    [position]
    the status or capacity in which something is done; nominal; titular; the name of something as opposed to its reality
  2. 不正 bù​zhèng
    dishonest
    devious or lacking in integrity; not upright in appropriate behavior
  3. 言 yán noun
    speech
    words; talk; what is said
  4. 不顺 不順 bù​shùn
    unfavorable
    not going smoothly; adverse; experiencing bad luck or frustration