Sometimes it's obvious to both parties that the end of a relationship is nigh.

有時候，對于戀愛雙方來說，一段感情走到盡頭的跡象是很明顯的。

Arguing more and more frequently might signal the breakdown of your relationship, but according to a new study, there are actually five distinct stages that lead to a break-up.

越來越頻繁的爭吵可能預示了這段感情的結束，但是根據最新研究顯示，事實上，在分手之前有截然不同的五個階段。

1.Pre-contemplation

1.懵懂期

This is before you even think about breaking up.

這是你在考慮分手之前的時期。

Everything's rosy and you're probably having a super time skinny-dipping and frolicking in the sea/having romantic candlelit dinners/Netflix and chilling.

所有事情都是那么美好，你們可能在裸泳和海中嬉戲時度過了一段美好的時光，或者是一頓燭光晚餐，亦或是看待在家里看付費電視。

2.Contemplation

2.思考期

In this stage, the first signs appear that something isn't quite right and not everything's so great any more.

在這一階段，你感覺有些東西不太對，并且不是所有的事情都那么美好，分手的苗頭就出現了。

You start having doubts and thinking things like "this relationship isn't for me," or "there's something off in my relationship."

你開始有了疑問，然后考慮像是“這段關系并不適合我，”或者“這段感情中有東西變質了，”這類事情。

3.Preparation

3.準備期

By the third stage, you've reached the point where you're certain you want to break-up, but don't know how to go about it - we all know it's never easy to instigate.

到了第三階段，你已經到了確定想分手的點了，但是不知道如何去做--我們都知道萬事開頭難。

For many people, the preparation stage lasts for months because they're umming and ahhing, can't pluck up the courage to end it or just don't want to hurt their partner's feelings.

對于大部分人來說，準備階段持續數月，因為人們只會說“嗯嗯……啊啊……”，不能鼓起分手的勇氣或者僅僅是不想傷害另一半的感情。

4.Action

4.行動期

The fourth stage is where you actually take the plunge, have the chat and go your separate ways.

事實上，第四階段是你斷然行動的階段，把話說明白然后各走各路。

Some people gradually fall into the action stage by talking to their partners less and less, whereas for others it's a sudden cutting off of all ties and ceasing communication.

有些人通過冷漠另一半的方法來逐漸進入第四階段，盡管別人看來是突然結束了所有的關系和交流。

5.Maintenance

5.療傷期

The final stage of a break-up is that sad period where you're giving back each other's belongings, be they toothbrushes, DVDs or jumpers.

分手的最后一個階段是一段悲傷的時光，你們相互交還對方的物品：對方的牙刷，DVD或者毛衣。

According to the study, if you've managed not to get back together while having these final exchanges, you'll probably stay apart forever.

根據這項研究，如果你在最后交換物品的時候已經打算不再和好，那你們可能永遠陌路了。

So now you know what signs to look out for - and what might be coming.

所以，現在你知道要觀察哪些預兆了--也知道可能會發生什么事情啦。

Sometimes it's obvious to both parties that the end of a relationship is nigh.

有時候，對于戀愛雙方來說，一段感情走到盡頭的跡象是很明顯的。

Arguing more and more frequently might signal the breakdown of your relationship, but according to a new study, there are actually five distinct stages that lead to a break-up.

越來越頻繁的爭吵可能預示了這段感情的結束，但是根據最新研究顯示，事實上，在分手之前有截然不同的五個階段。

1.Pre-contemplation

1.懵懂期

This is before you even think about breaking up.

這是你在考慮分手之前的時期。

Everything's rosy and you're probably having a super time skinny-dipping and frolicking in the sea/having romantic candlelit dinners/Netflix and chilling.

所有事情都是那么美好，你們可能在裸泳和海中嬉戲時度過了一段美好的時光，或者是一頓燭光晚餐，亦或是看待在家里看付費電視。

2.Contemplation

2.思考期

In this stage, the first signs appear that something isn't quite right and not everything's so great any more.

在這一階段，你感覺有些東西不太對，并且不是所有的事情都那么美好，分手的苗頭就出現了。

You start having doubts and thinking things like "this relationship isn't for me," or "there's something off in my relationship."

你開始有了疑問，然后考慮像是“這段關系并不適合我，”或者“這段感情中有東西變質了，”這類事情。

3.Preparation

3.準備期

By the third stage, you've reached the point where you're certain you want to break-up, but don't know how to go about it - we all know it's never easy to instigate.

到了第三階段，你已經到了確定想分手的點了，但是不知道如何去做--我們都知道萬事開頭難。

For many people, the preparation stage lasts for months because they're umming and ahhing, can't pluck up the courage to end it or just don't want to hurt their partner's feelings.

對于大部分人來說，準備階段持續數月，因為人們只會說“嗯嗯……啊啊……”，不能鼓起分手的勇氣或者僅僅是不想傷害另一半的感情。

4.Action

4.行動期

The fourth stage is where you actually take the plunge, have the chat and go your separate ways.

事實上，第四階段是你斷然行動的階段，把話說明白然后各走各路。

Some people gradually fall into the action stage by talking to their partners less and less, whereas for others it's a sudden cutting off of all ties and ceasing communication.

有些人通過冷漠另一半的方法來逐漸進入第四階段，盡管別人看來是突然結束了所有的關系和交流。

5.Maintenance

5.療傷期

The final stage of a break-up is that sad period where you're giving back each other's belongings, be they toothbrushes, DVDs or jumpers.

分手的最后一個階段是一段悲傷的時光，你們相互交還對方的物品：對方的牙刷，DVD或者毛衣。

According to the study, if you've managed not to get back together while having these final exchanges, you'll probably stay apart forever.

根據這項研究，如果你在最后交換物品的時候已經打算不再和好，那你們可能永遠陌路了。

So now you know what signs to look out for - and what might be coming.

所以，現在你知道要觀察哪些預兆了--也知道可能會發生什么事情啦。