Larinae

The Larinae are one of two sub-groups of the Laridae, the other being the Alcinae. The Larinae consist of four groups of birds: Stercorariini (skuas and jaegers), Rynchopini (skimmers), Larini (gulls), and Sternini (terns and noddies).

Chinese:

The Larinae are all known as 鸥 ōu in Chinese, which by itself is understood to refer to the gulls.

• Larini : The gulls proper are known as 鸥 ōu ('gulls') or 海鸥 hǎi-ōu ('sea gulls'). As a species name, 海鸥 hǎi-ōu refers to Larus canus.
• Sternini : The terns in general are known as 燕鸥 yàn-ōu ('swallow gulls'), although an older expression 海燕 hǎi-yàn appears to exist. (海燕 hǎi-yàn is, of course, now the standard term for 'petrel'.) Mainland terminology reserves the term 燕鸥 yàn-ōu for the genera Sterna, Thalasseus, etc. The marsh terns, noddies, and others are classed as different kinds of 鸥 ōu.
• Stercorariini : The skuas and jaegers are called 贼鸥 zéi-ōu 'robber gulls' due to their habit of harrassing smaller sea birds to give up their catch. They are also known as 猎鸥 liè-ōu 'hunting gulls'.
• Rynchopini : The skimmers are 剪嘴鸥 jiǎn-zuǐ-ōu 'scissor-billed gulls' in Chinese.

Japanese:

• Larini : In Japanese,the gulls proper are known as カモメ kamome, written with the Chinese character 鴎. By itself, kamome refers to Larus canus. The best-known gull in Japan, however, is not called a kamome at all, going instead by the name ウミネコ umi-neko or 'sea cat' after its distinctive cry.
• Sternini : The terns are known as アジサシ aji-sashi, meaning 'horse-mackerel stabber', written with the characters 鯵刺.
• Stercorariini : As in Chinese, the skuas/jaegers are called 'robber gulls' (トウゾクカモメ tōzoku kamome, written 盗賊鴎).
• Rynchopini : The skimmers are called ハサミアジサシ hasami aji-sashi, written 鋏鯵刺 and meaning 'scissor tern'.

Vietnamese:

• Larini : The Vietnamese word for 'gull' is or Mòng biển or Mòng bể, where mòng means 'wild duck' on its own, and bể and biển both mean 'sea'. By itself, Mòng bể is assigned by naturalists to Larus ridibindus. Vietnamese also has the words Hải nga and Hải âu for 'sea gull'. However, Hải âu is used for the albatrosses and petrels and Hải nga is used for the albatrosses.
• Sternini : The terns are known as Nhàn. However, the term Én biển ('sea swallow') also exists and several English-Vietnamese dictionaries give this as the Vietnamese equivalent for 'tern'.
• Stercorariini : The skuas/jaegers are not found in Vietnam. English-Vietnamese dictionaries give them the name Chim cướp biển ('pirate bird').
• Rynchopini : The skimmers are known as 'fish scoopers' (Xúc cá).