(そうせいじ)

そうせいじ
noun
twins (formal/medical term)
1. twins; twin
Two children born to the same mother at one birth. A formal, technical word; everyday speech uses 双子(ふたご).
一卵性(いちらんせい)双生児(そうせいじ)研究(けんきゅう)する。
To study identical twins.
双生児(そうせいじ)遺伝(いでん)研究(けんきゅう)でよく(あつか)われる。
Twins are often studied in genetic research.
一卵性(いちらんせい)双生児(そうせいじ)二卵性(にらんせい)双生児(そうせいじ)では、遺伝子(いでんし)共通(きょうつう)()(こと)なる。
Identical twins and fraternal twins differ in how much of their genes they share.

A formal, scholarly term of Chinese-character origin: (そう) (pair) + (せい) (birth) + () (child). Used in medical, academic, and legal contexts; ordinary conversation uses 双子(ふたご).

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 一卵性(いちらんせい)双生児(そうせいじ): identical (monozygotic) twins
  • 二卵性(にらんせい)双生児(そうせいじ): fraternal (dizygotic) twins
  • 双生児(そうせいじ)研究(けんきゅう): twin study

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 双子(ふたご): twins — the everyday word; 双生児(そうせいじ) is its formal counterpart
  • ()(): triplets — three children born together