上明不知下暗 上明不知下暗 上明不知下暗

those above, though enlightened, don't know the darkness below

Saying俗语俗語

Proverb谚语諺語 · Rarely used now

Meaning
Even a wise ruler or superior can hardly know the corruption and wrongs at lower levels.
Simplified
上明不知下暗
Pinyin
shàng míng bùzhī xià àn
Bopomofo
ㄕㄤˋ ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄢˋ

Written with HSK 5 vocabulary, at CEFR level B2.

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