休想

• Pinyin: xiū xiǎng
• Hanzi breakdown: 休 = 人 + 木 (stop/cease); 想 = 木 + 目 + 心 (think/wish)

Meaning

Do not even think about it; don't dream of it. A firm refusal emphasising that something is absolutely impossible.

A strong negative expression used to categorically reject someone's ambition, wish, or plan. Often used with a direct object clause and carries a tone of indignation or firm resolve.

Examples

1. 只要我还在这个职位上一天，你就休想绕过审批程序，私自推行这项计划。 As long as I’m in this position, don’t even think about bypassing the approval process and pushing this plan through on your own.
2. 敌人休想突破我们的防线，战士们已做好了不惜一切代价坚守阵地的准备。 The enemy won’t get through our defenses—our soldiers are ready to hold the line at any cost.
3. 他向对方明确表示，休想用这种卑劣手段胁迫他，他绝不会妥协让步。 He made it clear to them: don’t even think about using such despicable tactics to threaten him—he will not compromise or back down.

Usage Guide

Context: confrontation, refusal, military, negotiation

Tone: firm/negative

Do Say

• 在法律允许的范围之外，任何人休想通过非法手段获得不当利益，法律不会为此让步。(Outside the bounds of the law, no one should even dream of obtaining improper gain through illegal means — the law will not make allowances for it.)
• 只要守法经营，你便无需担忧；若有人休想靠欺诈牟利，法律终将予以严惩。(As long as you operate within the law you have nothing to fear; anyone who dreams of profiting through deception will ultimately face strict legal punishment.)

Don't Say

• 休想这道题会简单 — 休想 is a strong categorical refusal directed at someone's intention; for describing difficulty use 别以为 or 不要以为; 休想 requires an agent with a presumptuous intent

Origin & History

休 (stop/cease) + 想 (think/wish) — stop even thinking about it; an emphatic denial of possibility

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional to Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal