We have most friends at the age of 26 after having spent the first quarter of our lives building up our friendship circle, a new study has revealed.

一项最新研究显示，人们在26岁的时候朋友最多，因为我们已经花了人生四分之一的时间来建立我们的朋友圈。

The report into friendship showed that our social circle peaks at 26 years and seven months, at which we typically have five close friends.

这项关于友情的研究显示，我们的社交圈在26岁零7个月时达到顶峰，这时我们一般都有五个好友。

Women are most popular at 25 years and 10 months, with men hitting the friendship high point a little later at 27 years and three months.

女性在25岁零10个月的时候最受欢迎，而男性迟一些，在27岁零3个月的时候最受欢迎。

The research, by greetings card firm Forever Friends, shows that a third of adults (36 per cent) met their closest friends while at school with a fifth (22 per cent) saying they met them at work.

该研究由贺卡公司“永远的朋友”发起。研究称，约三分之一（36%）的成人在学校结识了挚友，而约五分之一（22%）的人说，他们在工作后认识了最好的朋友。

Social networks such as Facebook and Twitter now also play a major role in nurturing¹ new friendships.

现在，脸书和推特这样的社交网络也成为人们结识新朋友的主要场所。

The study found that 25 to 34-year-olds make 22 friends via Facebook, compared to 18 to 24-year-olds who make 12, and 35 to 44-year-olds who will have made just four.

研究发现，25到34岁的成人通过脸书结识了22个朋友，而18岁至24岁的人结识12个，35岁至44岁的，在脸书上仅仅结识了4个朋友。

Forever Friends relationship coach Sam Owen said: 'It is no coincidence that over a third of us meet our best friends at school.

山姆·欧文是“永远的朋友”公司的友情培养教练，他表示：“三分之一的人在学校遇见最好的朋友，这可不是巧合。”

'It is a key time in our lives where friendships are grown through sharing notes, giving gifts, seeing each other regularly and laughing a lot.

“学生时代是我们建立友情的关键时期，友情通过分享笔记、赠送礼物、时常见面和嬉笑打闹培养起来。”

'As adults we can often forget how powerful these small things are and how the little things can make a difference. Small gestures are just as important as big ones.

“我们成人时常忘了这些小事有多么巨大的力量和多么大的影响。在友情中，这些小事和大事一样重要。”

'With growing external pressures being put on friendships these days, it's important to nurture² and make time for our friendships.

“如今随着友情中的外部压力越来越大，找时间培养友情显得越发重要。”

'If we could only do one additional thing a week to show we care and love our friends, it would create a stronger framework for the future.'

“如果我们仅仅每周多做一件事向朋友表示关心和爱，这会为未来的友情创造更加坚实的基础。”

Later in life we find ourselves losing friends.

晚年的时候，我们会发现自己在不断失去朋友。

Over half (54 per cent) of us have lost friendships through moving, while 36 per cent say that over time they grew apart from close pals³.

超过一半的人（54%）在人生前行的过程中失去了一些朋友；36%的人说，随着时间的推移，他们和好友疏远了。

Having children has also caused 19 per cent to drift away from childless friends.

19%的人因为孩子疏远了那些没有孩子的朋友。

And new relationships play a big role in finding - and keeping - friends, with one in 10 people (11 per cent) saying their friendship circles had expanded due to a new relationship and 10 per cent revealing their partner did not approve of some.

建立新恋情在寻找朋友和维系朋友关系中发挥着重要作用，十分之一的人（11%）说，他们的朋友圈因为新恋情的出现而扩大了，而10%的人表示他们的爱人与一些朋友之间相处并不融洽。

The study also looked into the amount of friends we would like to have. It found that the average Brit has four close friends, but ideally we want six.

该研究还调查了人们的理想朋友数量。结果发现，英国人普遍有四个密友，但是他们的理想数量是六个。

Tellingly, almost half (48 per cent) of women and 39 per cent of men have at least one secret they share with their best friend, which they would never tell their partner.

事实上，约半数（48%）女性和39%的男性向好友透露过至少一个自己永远不会告诉另一半的秘密。