<p>出生 is used for humans and animals mostly. 出世 is used in ancient novels for heroes and great persons, also used for lifeless things like treasures and rarities.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-31T12:56:21.213Z
2017-05-31T12:56:21.213Z
xenophōn
<p>The quick answer is that 出生 means "to be born," that is to emerge from a womb and live on. 出世 means "to be reborn," in the Hindu/Buddhist sense.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-02T00:11:53.577Z
2017-06-02T00:11:53.577Z
LaoWai17
<p>I was watching a Chinese movie about the Monkey King (孙悟空）, and after he sprung out of the rock, he said "我出世了". I looked it up and understood it to mean "I was born". Are the two terms interchangeable or is one more formal than the other?</p>

<word-choice><difference>
出生 vs. 出世 differences?
# 出生 vs. 出世 differences?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-05-06)

I was watching a Chinese movie about the Monkey King (孙悟空）, and after he sprung out of the rock, he said "我出世了". I looked it up and understood it to mean "I was born". Are the two terms interchangeable or is one more formal than the other?

**Tags:** word-choice, difference


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-05-31. Score: 0

出生 is used for humans and animals mostly. 出世 is used in ancient novels for heroes and great persons, also used for lifeless things like treasures and rarities.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2017-06-02. Score: 0

The quick answer is that 出生 means "to be born," that is to emerge from a womb and live on. 出世 means "to be reborn," in the Hindu/Buddhist sense.


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