孪生

• Pinyin: luán shēng
• Hanzi breakdown: 孪 = 亦 + 子 (paired children, twin); 生 = to be born

Meaning

Twin; born at the same birth. Refers to two or more individuals born together from the same pregnancy.

孪生兄弟 (twin brothers), 孪生姐妹 (twin sisters). Also used metaphorically to describe things that are closely paired or nearly identical: 孪生城市 (twin cities). 同卵孪生 (identical twins) and 异卵孪生 (fraternal twins) are medical terms.

Examples

1. 这对孪生兄弟不仅相貌一模一样，连性格爱好都出奇地相似。 These twin brothers not only look exactly alike, but their personalities and interests are also surprisingly similar.
2. 在遗传学研究中，孪生子女是探讨基因与环境相互作用的理想研究对象。 In genetics research, twins are ideal subjects for exploring how genes and environment interact.
3. 两座城市因相似的历史背景和文化渊源，被誉为跨越大洋的孪生城市。 Because of their similar historical background and cultural roots, the two cities are known as sister cities across the ocean.

Usage Guide

Context: biology, medicine, family, metaphor

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 医院为这对孪生婴儿举行了联合满月宴，吸引了众多亲友前来祝贺。(The hospital held a joint one-month celebration for the twin babies, attracting many relatives and friends to offer their congratulations.)
• 孪生研究表明，遗传因素对智力发展的影响约占百分之五十。(Twin studies indicate that genetic factors account for approximately fifty percent of the influence on intellectual development.)

Don't Say

• 将孪生与双胞胎混淆 — 孪生 is the formal or literary term for twins; 双胞胎 is the common everyday term; use 双胞胎 in casual speech and 孪生 in formal or academic contexts

Origin & History

孪 = 亦 + 子 (two children born together); 生 = born/birth — born as twins

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal