可想而知
one can well imagine; it goes without saying
Structure
事实 ， 可想而知 ， 结果 · 事实 ， 结果 ＋ （是）可想而知（的）
What it means
Follows a stated fact and leaves the obvious consequence to the reader: “one can well imagine; it goes without saying”.
How it is built
Fact, + 可想而知, + result; or fact, + result + (是)可想而知(的): 他一夜没睡，第二天的精神状态可想而知 (He hadn’t slept, so you can imagine his state the next day).
When to use it
Writing and serious talk alike; met as a word in 1-7. Often with 就更…了 when the second case is worse: 连专家都看不懂，普通读者的困惑就更可想而知了.
Watch out
It is not a verb with a person as subject: ✗我可想而知 ✓我可以想象 / 你可以想象。
Examples
可想而知，在门窗紧闭、拥挤污秽的小旅店里，它传播得有多快。
One can well imagine how fast it spread in the cramped, filthy little inns, with every door and window shut.
他一夜没睡，第二天开会时的精神状态可想而知。
He had not slept all night, so you can imagine what state he was in at the meeting the next day.
连专家都看不懂这份报告，普通读者的困惑就更可想而知了。
If even the experts cannot follow the report, you can imagine how lost ordinary readers are.
Learn this in Lesson 159 · HSK 7–9: 伍连德与1910年鼠疫 (Wu Lien-teh and the plague of 1910)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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