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

有时候，对于恋爱双方来说，一段感情走到尽头的迹象是很明显的。

Arguing more and more frequently might signal the breakdown¹ of your relationship, but according to a new study, there are actually five distinct stages that lead to a break-up.

越来越频繁的争吵可能预示了这段感情的结束，但是根据最新研究显示，事实上，在分手之前有截然不同的五个阶段。

1.Pre-contemplation

1.懵懂期

This is before you even think about breaking up.

这是你在考虑分手之前的时期。

Everything's rosy² 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，你们可能在裸泳和海中嬉戏时度过了一段美好的时光，或者是一顿烛光晚餐，亦或是看待在家里看付费电视。

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.

在这一阶段，你感觉有些东西不太对，并且不是所有的事情都那么美好，分手的苗头就出现了。

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

你开始有了疑问，然后考虑像是“这段关系并不适合我，”或者“这段感情中有东西变质了，”这类事情。

3.Preparation

3.准备期

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 instigate³.

到了第三阶段，你已经到了确定想分手的点了，但是不知道如何去做--我们都知道万事开头难。

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.

对于大部分人来说，准备阶段持续数月，因为人们只会说“嗯嗯……啊啊……”，不能鼓起分手的勇气或者仅仅是不想伤害另一半的感情。

4.Action

4.行动期

The fourth stage is where you actually take the plunge⁴, have the chat and go your separate ways.

事实上，第四阶段是你断然行动的阶段，把话说明白然后各走各路。

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.

有些人通过冷漠另一半的方法来逐渐进入第四阶段，尽管别人看来是突然结束了所有的关系和交流。

5.Maintenance

5.疗伤期

The final stage of a break-up is that sad period where you're giving back each other's belongings⁵, be they toothbrushes, DVDs or jumpers.

分手的最后一个阶段是一段悲伤的时光，你们相互交还对方的物品：对方的牙刷，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.

根据这项研究，如果你在最后交换物品的时候已经打算不再和好，那你们可能永远陌路了。

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

所以，现在你知道要观察哪些预兆了--也知道可能会发生什么事情啦。