不堪设想
bù kān shè xiǎng
(of consequences) too dreadful to imagine
Character by character
不bù
not
not
堪kān
bear
bear
设shè
suppose
suppose
想xiǎng
think
think
Example
要是没系安全带,后果不堪设想。
If he hadn't worn a seatbelt, it doesn't bear thinking about.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
Almost always 后果不堪设想.
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