Twins

[Ailuo]

Do 孪生 and 双胞胎 mean the same thing? Are they regional differences or do they have different meanings?

[danny1997]

孪生 and 双胞胎 have got the same meaning. But with 孪生，we used to say : 孪生兄弟 (twin brothers)，孪生姐妹 (twin sisters)。

 

If the twins are one girl and one boy, we can precise by saying : 龙凤胎。

[Lu]

I'm not sure (check with another native speaker) but I have the impression that 孿生 is more formal/written language, and 雙胞胎 more informal/spoken language.

[danny1997]

@Lu : I think you are right. I prefer saying "他们是双胞胎" to 他们是孪生兄弟or 姐妹 。 The latter is more complicated than the former in oral conversation.

 

孪生 "luán shēng" is somehow not easy to prononce or to be understood even for native chinese speakers。

[Ailuo]

Thanks. That makes sense, I came across it reading and had to look it up because I am used to hearing 双胞胎。Then I thought maybe it was for identical twins or something. I can certainly see where 双胞胎 rolls of the tongue easier. 

[Ailuo]

Danny, I never heard 龙凤胎 before, that is neat. 

[skylee]

In Hong Kong, 孖生(仔/女) is used → http://www.zdic.net/c/6/79/127446.htm

The older of the twins is called 大孖, the younger 細孖. 龍鳳胎 is commonly used.

In writing, 孖生/雙生/孿生/雙胞胎/龍鳳胎 are commonly used here.

[danny1997]

他们是双胞胎/双生/孪生。- > They could be identical or non-identical twins. (2 boys or 2 girls or 1 boy + 1 girl)

 

他们是同卵 (tóng luǎn : monozygotic)  双胞胎/双生/孪生 -> They are identical twins. (2 boys or 2 girls)

 

他们是异卵 (yì luǎn: dizygotic)  双胞胎/双生/孪生 -> They are non-identical twins. (2 boys or 2 girls or 1 boy + 1 girl)

 

他们是龙凤胎 -> They are different sex twins (and of course non-identical )。(1 boy + 1 girl)