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不堪设想

bù kān shè xiǎng

(of consequences) too dreadful to imagine

Character by character

不bù
not
堪kān
bear
设shè
suppose
想xiǎng
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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