Glossary of anime and manga

Glossary of Japanese words and phrases used by anime and manga fans within and outside of Japan.

A

Ahoge (アホ毛)

Literary, "stupid hair". The term refers to a single strand of hair that sticks out of a character's head and usually indicates that a character is stupid. However, this is not an absolute rule. It differs from antenna hair, in which there are two or more locks of hair sticking up as opposed to one.

Anime (アニメ)

A Japanese style of motion picture animation. The term is commonly used by Westerners to refer to animation produced exclusively in Japan. Within Japan, the term refers to all animation.

Anime music video

Often abbreviated AMV, video clips from at least one anime series arranged to fit a musical piece playing in the background.

Aniparo (アニパロ)

Literally, "anime parody" — anime characters being used by fans in a parodic way.

B

Baka (馬鹿)

baka in anime refers to an anime character that is idiotic or foolish.

Bakunyū (爆乳)

is a genre of pornographic media focusing on the depiction of women with large breasts. The word can be literally translated to "exploding breasts". With regards to bra size, bakunyū are said to be above a G75 bra size but below an M70. Bakunyū is a subgenre within the genre of hentai anime.

Bara (薔薇)

Literally, "rose". "Bara" refers to a masculine gay men's culture and in manga circles, a genre of manga about beefcakey gay men usually by gay men. Compare with the female-created Boys' Love.

Bishōjo (美少女)

Literally, "pretty girl". Often refers to any young, attractive woman, but also used to imply sexual availability (as in "bishōjo games").

Bishōnen (美少年)

"Beautiful boy" — Japanese aesthetic concept of the ideally beautiful young man. Androgynous, effeminate or gender ambiguous. In Japan it refers to youth with such characteristics, but in the west has become a generic term for attractively androgynous males of all ages.

Bishie

1) Bishōnen. 2) slang for an incredibly cute/beautiful guy that mobs of girls like to chase after. For example, the main character in the Taiwanese manhua 1/2 Prince is called a bishie.

Boys' Love (ボーイズラブ, Bōizu Rabu)

male homosexual content aimed at women, current, generally used in Japan to cover yaoi and shōnen-ai.

C

Catgirl (猫娘, Nekomusume)

A female character with cat ears and a cat tail, but an otherwise human body. These characters often have feline habits, claw-like nails, and occasionally show fangs. Emotional expressions are also feline in nature, such as an exaggerated fur-standing-on-end when startled. These characteristics are also sometimes used on guys as well as in the case of the characters of Loveless, Kyo Sohma of Fruits Basket, and Ikuto Tsukiyomi of Shugo Chara!.

Chibi (チビ,ちび)

Japanese word meaning "shorty" or "little one". Chibi characters are generally drawn in such a way that they look cute. Due to Sailor Moon and mistranslation, in the U.S. it is sometimes used to mean super deformed.

Comiket (コミケット, Comiketto)

Comics Market (コミックマーケット, Komikku Māketto) — World's largest comic convention held semi-annually in Tokyo, Japan for producers and fans of Dōjinshi (see the franchise Comic Party).

D

Dandere (ダンデレ)

A character that is portrayed as antisocial, but eventually changes to display their sweet, romantic, and loving soft side. (see also Tsundere, Yandere and Kuudere)

Dere Dere (デレデレ)

To be "lovestruck" and "lovey dovey". (see also Tsundere and Yandere)

Dojikko (ドジっ子)

A cute girl that tends to be clumsy. They may make mistakes that hurt themselves or others.

Dōjinshi (同人誌)

A fanmade or amateurly produced work such as a parody, fan fiction or manga.

Dōseiaisha (同性愛者)

Same-sex-loving person (Terminology).

Dub (吹き替え, fukikae)

When the voices in an anime are translated into another language.

E

Ecchi (エッチ, ecchi)

The Japanese pronunciation of the letter "H". It represents the first letter in the word "Hentai" and can refer to anything ranging between mildly erotic maa and anime to unwarranted sexual behavior. In Europe and North America, it is mostly used for soft erotic productions while "hentai" is used for pornographic productions.

Enjo kōsai (援助交際)

"Compensated dating" which may at times border on quasi-legal prostitution. High school girls are paid by older men to take them out for a night on the town, possibly with sex included.

Eyecatch (アイキャッチ, aikyatchi)

A scene or illustration used to begin and end a commercial break in a Japanese TV program, similar to how bumpers into/out of commercial breaks are used in the United States.

Eroge (エロゲー)

An eroge (エロゲー, erogē), a portmanteau of erotic game (エロチックゲーム, erochikku gēmu), is a Japanese video or computer game that features erotic content, usually in the form of anime-style artwork. Eroge originated from Galge that added Adult content rated 18+.

F

Fan fiction (ファン フィクション, fan fikushon)

A general story or piece of fiction written by fans of media, including anime.

Fan service (ファンサービス, Fan Sābisu)

Elements specifically included to sexually amuse (such as scantily-clad and/or naked males or females, or ecchi content) or titillate the audience that are either necessary or unnecessary to plot development.

Fandub

Short for fan-dubbed — a film or video in which fans have translated and voiced over the dialogue into another language.

Fansub

Short for fan-subtitled — a film or video in which fans have translated and subtitled the dialogue into another language.

Fujoshi (腐女子)

A female yaoi (やおい) fan; "rotten woman".

Futanari (ふたなり)

Characters that appear to be women (face, breasts, hips, narrow waist), but have both female and male genitalia.

G

Gakuran (学ラン)

A uniform made for middle school and high school boys in Japan. The gakuran was derived from Prussian army uniforms.

Galge (ギャルゲ)

This is a type of Japanese video game centered around interactions with attractive anime-style girls. These games are a subgenre of dating sims targeted towards a male audience.

Ganguro (顔黒, ガングロ)

Literally "black face". A fashion trend among Japanese girls. The look consists of bleached hair, a deep tan, black and white eyeliner, false eyelashes, platform shoes, and brightly colored outfits.

Gei (ゲイ)

Transliteration of gay. Etymology.

Gei comi (ゲイコミ, geikomi)

Manga with male homosexual themes, by men for men. Compare with yaoi, shōnen-ai, June and BL.

Girls with guns

The term is used in reference to anime series and works inspired or influenced by it.

Gothicana

A serenade, with Gothic traits, such as black rose petals or wearing predominately black.

Guro

A type of anime, manga, or game which includes violence, torture, and sometimes death of the character. The purpose of the violence is to increase pleasure of the audience, reader, or player who like that kind of genre. Sometimes it's also synonymous with the hentai phrase, Ero guro.

Gothloli (ゴスロリ, Gosurori)

Gothic Lolita — a fashion trend where girls and young women dress in the style of elaborate porcelain dolls. Usually is a mix of gothic and 19th century dress, but some of them are very colorful, and other do not use 19th century European clothing. For example, Kurumi Tokisaki who wears a dress with crimson and black frills, giving her the appearance of an Gothic Lolita, or like Kuroneko of Oreimo.

H

Haraguro (腹黒, haraguro)

A character who has an outward appearance of being amicable, friendly, innocent, kind and/or refreshing, but is a facade is to hide a cruel, cunning, evil, manipulative, mean and/or sadistic side. Despite the negative connotation, not all haraguro are villainous or are sociopaths. Their motives vary very widely depending upon the character themselves and the "seriousness" of the story. The term comes from the Japanese word "Haraguroi (腹黒い)", which means "black-hearted; mean; scheming".

Harem (ハーレムもの, hāremumono)

A subgenre of anime and manga characterized by a protagonist surrounded, usually amorously, by three or more members of the opposing sex and/or love interests. Male-oriented harems are the most common.

Henshin (変身, henshin)

"transformation". A phrase used in anime, manga, and tokusatsu dramas for when a character transforms into a superhero by speaking a signature phrase or by using a transformation device and speaking a signature phrase in order to activate it.

Hentai (変態, ヘンタイ)

"Abnormal" or "perverted". Used by Western audiences to refer to sexually explicit or pornographic anime and manga. However, in Japan the term used to refer to the same material is typically Poruno or Ero. Hentai is a popular subject in fan fiction and fan art.

Hikikomori (引き籠もり, ひきこもり, 引きこもり)

A hikikomori is someone who secludes themselves within their home, sometimes refusing to leave their home at all in an effort to isolate themselves from society. It can be viewed as a social phobia similar to agoraphobia. Hikikomori are often associated with otaku but the terms are distinct.

I

Iinchō (委員長)

Short for gakkyū iinchō (学級委員長), the class representative in a Japanese school.

Imōto (妹)

younger sister.

J

Josei (女性)

Literally "Woman"; Anime and Manga intended for the adult female demographic.

Juné, also written as June

a manga or text story with male homosexual themes for women written in an aesthetic (耽美, tanbi) style, named for the Juné magazine.

K

Kabe-Don (壁ドン)

In Japanese, "kabe" is wall, and "don" is the sound of slapping against a wall. Literally, Kabe-Don describes the act of fiercely slapping a wall. One meaning is slapping a wall as a protest which occurs in collective housing like a condominium when the next room makes noise. Another meaning often appears in shōjo manga or anime when a man forces a woman against a wall with one hand or a man leans against a wall and makes a slapping sound, leaving the woman nowhere to go. This has become popular nowadays as a "clever move of confession".

Kemono (獣, けもの, ケモノ)

"Beast". A genre of Japanese art and character design that prominently features animal-like fictional characters in human-like settings (Anthropomorphism) and situations. (see The Cat Returns, c.f. Furry fandom)

Kemonomimi (獣耳, けものミミ, ケモノミミ)

Characters with animal features such as ears and a tail, but a human body. Catgirl also falls under this concept. Examples include many of the characters of Loveless, Boris Airay, Peter White, Elliot March, and Pierce Villers of Alice in the Country of Hearts, Ikuto Tsukiyomi and Yoru of Shugo Chara!, and most of the characters of Dog Days.

Kodomo or Kodomomuke (子供向け)

Anime and manga for children of both genders.

Kogal (コギャル, kogyaru)

A subculture of girls and young women, the kogal "look" roughly approximates a sun-tanned California Valley girl.

Komiketto (コミケット)

Genericised form of Comiket (Comics Market).

Kūdere (クーデレ)

A character archetype considered cold-hearted and indifferent, but not showing true colors. See Tsundere.

Kyonyū (巨乳)

Literally, "Giant Breasts". A classification of breast size in casual Japanese. Breasts above an E70 bra size but below a G75 are considered to be "kyonyū", after which point they are called "bakunyū" (縛乳).

L

Lemon (レモン, Remon)

derived from the hentai anthology series Cream Lemon (くりいむレモン, Kurīmu Remon). Material with explicit sexual content (not to be confused with the slang term for Lesbian in some English speaking cultures).

Lolicon (ロリコン, rorikon)

Portmanteau for "lolita complex". A genre of manga and anime wherein childlike female characters are depicted in an erotic manner. In Japan it is also a slang term for "pedophile".

Loli-Goth

Gothloli (ゴスロリ, Gosurori) — Gothic Lolita (ゴシック・ロリータ, Goshikku Rorīta).

M

MAD Movie (MAD動画, maddo dōga)

A Japanese fan-made video, much like an anime music video (AMV), that generally originates from the Japanese website Nico Nico Douga. MAD can also refer to the Japanese AMV community, although they can be anything from audio clips, edited pictures, to wholly original creations. MADs do not necessarily even need to be related to anime, though the more popular ones typically are.

Majokko (魔女っ子)

Literally "witch girl"; this term does not generally apply to modern magical girl anime.

Manga (漫画, マンガ)

Japanese comics. Or conforming to "manga style", usually marked by features such as large eyes, long limbs, speed lines and exclamatory typography.

Mangaka (漫画家, マンガ家)

Creator of the manga. Mangakas are often the writers and illustrators of the work.

Manga music video

Often abbreviated as MMV, similar to an anime music video (AMV), although instead of clips from anime, panels or pages from at least one manga series are arranged to fit a musical piece playing in the background.

Mecha (メカ, meka)

Abbreviation for "mechanical". In Japan, the word is used for all kinds of machines. In Western countries, it applies mainly to anime and manga focusing on piloted combat robots. Divided into two subgenres: super robots (the mecha have unrealistic powers, and the focus is more on the fighting and robots themselves) and real robots (more realistic, with more drama and focus on the humans). The word "mecha" can also be used to refer to the robots themselves.

Meganekko (眼鏡っ娘)

A female character who wears glasses. Male characters sporting glasses are called megane.

Moe (萌え)

Generally used for female characters, though it can refer to effeminate males in some instances. Something or someone that is considered moe is generally considered to be endearing, innocent, and naive, while taking on some of the emotional qualities of adolescence generally meant to invoke a paternal feeling of protectiveness and sympathy within the viewer. The most literal translation of the word into languages other than Japanese is "fetish", though the concept of moe does not necessarily have a direct correlation to sexual preferences, and often refers to works of a non-sexual nature. It can also be used to modify other words or concepts, such as meganekko-moe ( "glasses-girl" moe), referring to a character who both wears glasses and has the qualities of moe.

O

Okama (オカマ)

Literally cooking pot. A man who crossdresses, wears makeup, talks like a woman, etc. Could be of any sexual orientation. Etymology

Omake (おまけ, オマケ)

Some kind of add-on bonus on an anime DVD, like a regular "extra" on western DVDs. May also be a bonus strip at the end of a manga chapter or volume.

ONA

Original Net Animation, an anime production intended to be distributed in the internet via streaming or direct download.

Onee-chan (お姉ちゃん)

Older sister, with "onee" meaning older sister and "-chan" being an affectionate suffix. The beginning "o" is a respectful honorific.

Onee-sama (お姉さま)

Older sister, with "onee" meaning older sister and "-sama" being a respectful suffix. The beginning "o" is another respectful honorific.

Onii-chan (お兄ちゃん)

Older brother, with "onii" meaning older brother and "-chan" being an affectionate suffix. The beginning "o" is a respectful honorific.

Onii-sama (お兄さま)

Older brother, with "onii" meaning older brother and "-sama" being a respectful suffix. The beginning "o" is another respectful honorific.(similar to Onii-san)

Osananajimi (幼馴染)

Childhood friend.

Otaku (おたく, オタク, ヲタク)

The literal translation of the word is your house, but in Japanese slang, this refers to somebody who has an obsession with anime. The person in question is usually assumed to be a neet, or shut-in, and are often characterized by antisocial tendencies, and intense attraction to anime characters, or "2D girls".

Otenba (おてんば, お転婆)

tomboy

Otome gēmu (乙女ゲーム)

Lit. "maiden games". This is a video game that is targeted towards a female market, where one of the main goals, besides the plot goal, is to develop a romantic relationship between the player character (a female) and one of several male characters.

Otōto (弟)

Younger brother.

OVA

Original Video Animation, or OVA is a type of anime, which is intended to be distributed on VHS tapes or DVDs, and not to show in movies, or television. It can also less frequently be referred to as OAV, or Original Animated Video.

Owari (おわり, オワリ, 終わり, 終)

"End" in Japanese, used by some fanfiction authors at the end of their works. Also used at the end of many anime series.

Oyaji (親父, おやじ, オヤジ)

"Daddy" — older male such as a teacher or other role model. Often slightly perverted, but usually portrayed affectionately. Can also be used as "pops" or "old man" (as in father).

P

Pocky

A popular Japanese chocolate covered stick candy.

Q

Q-version

The English translation for the Chinese term Q版 (pinyin: Kiū bǎn), referring to the cartoonification or infantilization in the artistic renderings of real life or serious human, animal figures or other characters or objects, especially in the styles of Anime. "Q" is a Chinese approximation of the English word "cute".

R

Raw

Anime episode or manga scans in its original language without editing or subtitles.

S

Scanlation (also "scanslation")

the scanning, translation and editing of comics from one language into another.

Seinen (青年)

Anime and manga intended for the adult male demographic.

Seiyū (声優)

Japanese voice actor. As well as voicing characters in anime, seiyū do voicing for video games, radio shows, drama CDs, etc.

Seme (攻め)

"Dominant" partner in Boys Love. See uke.

Shōjo (少女)

Lit. "Young woman". Anime and manga intended for the adolescent to teenage female demographic.

Shōjo-ai (少女愛)

coined following the form of shōnen-ai, denoting lesbian content, typically for material without explicit sex. In Japan, the term shōjo-ai is not used with this meaning, and instead tends to denote ephebophilia.

Shōnen (少年)

Lit. "Young man". Anime and manga intended for the adolescent to teenage male demographic.

Shōnen-ai (少年愛)

A term denoting male homosexual content in women's media, although this usage is obsolete in Japan. English-speakers frequently use it for material without explicit sex, in anime, manga, and related fan fiction. In Japan, it denotes ephebophilia.

Shotacon (ショタコン, shotakon)

A genre of manga and anime wherein childlike male characters are depicted in an erotic manner.

Shudō (衆道)

Abbreviation for "wakashudo". The Way of Young Men age structured male homosexuality in samurai society.

Sōhōkō-ai (双方向愛)

A term denoting bisexual content, typically for material without explicit sexual content in anime, manga, and related fan fiction. In Japan, the term is not used with this meaning, it denotes ephebophilia.

Sōsaku June (創作JUNE)

dōjinshi with male homosexual themes for women that are original stories and non-parodic of existing series.

Sub (字幕, jimaku)

Origination from subtitle, when an anime is kept in its original language, but has subtitles.

T

Tsudzuku (つづく)

Literally "it continues". Occasionally used at the end of a chapter of manga or an episode of anime when a continuation is to follow.

Tsundere (ツンデレ)

A character personality who's usually stern, cold and/or hostile to the person they like, while occasionally letting slip their warm and loving feelings they're hiding inside due to being shy, nervous, insecure or just can't help acting badly in front of the person they like. Such as spending a lot of time and effort to make their crush's favorite lunch, but when giving it to them saying something like "I made too much and it'd be a waste to throw it away so here! And it's not because I really like you or wanted to make your favorite meal just to see you smile." It is an portmanteau of the Japanese terms "Tsuntsun", meaning to be stern or hostile, and "Deredere" meaning to be in love with somebody.

Tsunshun (ツンシュン)

Almost the same as tsundere, except the character shows depression in addition to coldness and hostility, usually after the latter.

U

Uke (受け)

"Passive" partner in Boys Love. See seme.

Y

Yamato nadeshiko (大和撫子)

The Japanese ideal for a woman, being humble and skilled in domestic matters.

Yandere (ヤンデレ)

Commonly pronounced yawn-dare-ay, A Japanese term for a person who is initially very cheerful, kind, loving, caring, and gentle to someone (or at least innocent) they really, truly like and care about a lot until their purely intense romantic love, admiration, and devotion becomes feisty, stubborn, bossy and mentally destructive in nature, usually, but not always through either overprotectiveness, violence, brutality or all three. The term is a portmanteau from the words yanderu (病んでる) meaning a mental or emotional illness, and deredere (でれでれ) meaning to show genuinely strong romantic affection. Yandere characters are mentally unstable, sometimes are incredibly deranged, are not mentally sane, often using extreme violence and/or brutality as an outlet for their emotions. Yandere are usually, but not always, female characters. Yandere is shown in the videogame Yandere Simulator, in which the main character 'Yandere chan', kills, kidnaps and tortures to win her Senpai's love.

Yankii (ヤンキー)

Since the late 1970s, the term Yankī has been used to refer to a type of delinquent youth. Yankī subculture popularized in Japan consists of secondary school delinquents who attained notoriety due to violent and reckless behavior. They are characterized by punch perms or pompadours, shaved eyebrows, bleach blonde hair and altered school uniforms. Although a unisex term that can apply to both men and women, it is more commonly applied to men.

Yangire (ヤンギレ)

Originated in Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha Strikers and refers to a character who is mentally ill and snaps instantly without showing affection for the victim of their outbursts. It is a portmanteau of yandere (see above) and kireru (切れる) meaning to snap or lose one's temper. A classic (and rather extreme) example of yangire is Kurumi Tokisaki from the light novel/anime Date A Live, a girl who snaps suddenly out of jealousy, irritation, or a similar emotion. Unlike yandere characters, she is not motivated by love. Another example of a Yangire is Rena Ryugu from the SN/game/manga/anime series Higurashi no Naku Koro ni. Shion Sonozaki, a very well-known Yandere, also comes from this series.

Yaoi (やおい)

Japanese acronym for "yama nashi, ochi nashi, imi nashi" (no climax, no point, no meaning). Also known as boys love. Sometimes male-on-male sexual content; usually created by women for women.

Yōni (ヨーニ)

Also known as two-way love — when a male or female character is sexually active with both the opposite sex and the same sex, either at the same time or at separate times; indicating bisexual content. Applied when it's not just Yaoi/Yuri only.

Yuri (百合)

Lit. "Lily". Jargon term for lesbian content or girl love. In Japan, the term denotes a broad spectrum of attraction between women. It is also used for sexually explicit content outside of Japan. It is used like the term "yaoi" for men.

Z

Zettai ryōiki (絶対領域)

Meaning "Absolute Territory" (a term from the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion), this phrase refers to the area of exposed thigh when a girl is wearing a short skirt and thigh high socks. The 'ideal' skirt:thigh:sock above knee ratio is often reported to be 4:1:2.5. Zettai Ryōiki are often referred to by letter grades, where Grade A is the ideal and grade F is ankle socks, another grade, grade S, also exists consisting of Grade A in combination with ponytails and Tsundere personality.

See also

• Anime and manga terminology
• Japanese fashion
• Japanese subcultures

External links

• Anime Terminology Lexicon at Animeph.com — a large list of English and Japanese terms used in anime and manga lingo