出世 (chū shì) literally combines 出 (‘to go out, emerge’) and 世 (‘world, society’), so its core meaning is ‘to emerge into the world’ — i.e., to be born. It’s commonly used for humans and animals alike, especially in formal, literary, or narrative contexts (e.g., biographies, news reports about newborns, or descriptions of rare animal births). Unlike the more colloquial 生 (shēng), 出世 carries a slightly elevated or poetic tone.

The word can also mean ‘to enter society’ in extended usage — for example, when referring to a person’s debut in public life, such as an artist’s first major exhibition or a company’s launch. In this sense, it emphasizes emergence into a broader social or professional sphere. While both meanings share the idea of entry or appearance, the birth sense is far more frequent in everyday language.