Conscious uncoupling refers to the act of ending a marriage or relationship, but in a way that is viewed as a very positive step by both parties, who believe that their lives will be better for doing so, and that they can continue to remain friends, co-parent if they have children, and possibly not even fall out of love with each other. The expression was hurled¹ into the media spotlight² in March 2014 by actress Gwyneth Paltrow and singer Chris Martin, who announced the breakup of their marriage online by saying that they intended to 'consciously uncouple'.

 

Conscious uncoupling（清醒分手）指双方用一种积极的方式结束婚姻或恋爱关系，他们认为这样做会让他们的生活变得更好，他们还会继续做朋友，如果有孩子的话会继续共同抚养孩子，甚至可能会继续相爱。这个表达在2014年3月被演员温妮丝·帕特洛和歌手克里斯·马汀抛到媒体聚光灯下，他们在网上宣布结束婚姻，说他们是“清醒分手”。

 

The expression was popularized by Katherine Woodward Thomas, a US marriage therapist and author who posits³ a method of dealing⁴ with breakups in a positive way by focusing on the idea of 'completing' (rather than ending) a relationship and, through lessons learned along the way, being empowered to move on with life as a better person equipped to succeed in any further relationships.

 

这个表达是由美国婚姻治疗师兼作家凯瑟琳·伍德沃德·托马斯（Katherine Woodward Thomas）普及开来的，她设定了一套用积极的方式应对分手的方法，将关注点放在一段关系的“完整”（而不是结束）上，并且通过吸取一路走来的经验教训让自己开始新生活，成为一个在未来任何一段关系中都能成功的更好的人。

点击收听单词发音