shàng​xíng​xià​xiào

as those above act, so those below follow

Senses

上行下效 shàng​xíng​xià​xiào variants: 上行下傚 as those above act, so those below follow

As superiors or elders do, subordinates or juniors will follow suit; now often used in a negative sense to describe how bad behavior is imitated by others

References

see 言传身教/言傳身教 上行下效/上行下效
synonym 邹缨齐紫/鄒纓齊紫 上行下效/上行下效