Ecchi Anime Glossary

Ahegao (アヘ顔) describes an exaggerated facial expression characterized by rolled-back eyes, a protruding tongue, and flushed cheeks, typically depicted during moments of intense pleasure in erotic manga and anime.

AI Waifu refers to an artificial girlfriend powered by artificial intelligence, designed to simulate romantic or adult interactions with anime-style personalities.

Anime (アニメ) is Japanese animation known for its unique art style and wide range of genres, including action, romance, fantasy, and adult-themed content. It includes both TV series and films.

Ashikoki (足扱き / 足コキ) is a sexual act involving the use of feet to stimulate a partner’s genitals, often portrayed in adult or ecchi Japanese media as a form of fetish play.

ASMR is a type of audio content designed to produce relaxing or tingling sensations. In fandom culture, it can include erotic audio experiences voiced by anime-style characters or VTubers.

Baihe (百合), meaning “lily,” is the Chinese term for romantic or sexual relationships between women, similar to the Japanese yuri or Girls’ Love genre.

Baka (バカ) means “idiot” or “fool” in Japanese. It’s commonly used in anime dialogue, especially in comedic or romantic contexts.

Boy Love (BL) refers to romantic or sexual content between male characters, similar to yaoi. It is especially popular among female audiences but appeals to a wide range of fans.

Bukkake (ぶっかけ) refers to a practice where multiple individuals ejaculate onto a person’s face or body, commonly featured in certain genres of adult or ecchi Japanese media.

Chikan (痴漢) denotes a person who engages in groping or molestation, particularly in crowded public spaces; the term also refers to the act itself. So if you ever hear this in an anime, now you know what it means.

Comedy manga aims to entertain with humor, often mixing slapstick, absurdity, and romantic misunderstandings. Many ecchi and harem series fall under this genre.

Cosplay is the act of dressing up as characters from anime, manga, or video games. It ranges from casual social media content to professional modeling and adult cosplay.

Cosplay Girls are content creators or influencers who post photos and videos dressed as anime or game characters, often adding flirtatious or adult-themed elements.

Cultivation manhua (修炼 / 修真 / 修仙) refers to the practice of gaining spiritual power or immortality through martial arts, meditation, or magical means. Frequently featured in xianxia and xuanhuan manhua and webnovels.

Waifu Pillow (抱き枕 / Dakimakura) is a large body pillow printed with images of anime or game characters, often used as a comfort or fantasy object by fans.

Danmei (耽美) refers to Chinese fiction that focuses on romantic or sexual relationships between male characters, similar to the Japanese Boys’ Love (BL) genre. It’s popular in web novels, manhua, and live-action dramas.

Doujinshi (同人誌) are independently published Japanese comics, often created by fans or indie authors. They frequently include parodies or unofficial stories and may feature explicit adult content. Also see > Manga.

Ecchi (エッチ) is a genre of anime and manga that includes sexually suggestive scenes or themes without showing explicit sexual acts, commonly considered softcore. If looking for something more hardcore, check > Hentai.

Eroge (エロゲー) is short for “erotic game,” a genre of adult Japanese video games that often include visual novels with interactive storylines and explicit scenes. Sometimes people use “ecchi game” as a synonym.

Erotica in manga refers to sensual or sexual storytelling focused on arousal and intimacy without the overt explicitness of hentai.

Fanart refers to artwork created by fans that features characters or scenes from existing anime, manga, video games, or other media. It can range from wholesome tributes to highly stylized or spicy reinterpretations and is widely shared across social media, forums, and fandom platforms.

Fantasy manga features magic, mythical creatures, or alternate worlds. Many fantasy series include romantic or sexual subplots, especially in adult-targeted works.

Futanari (ふたなり) is a subgenre of hentai that features characters with both male and female anatomy. It’s known for its explicit and fantastical themes. Often found in ecchi manga and doujinshi.

Gacha (ガチャ) refers to a randomized reward system in mobile games, often used to collect anime characters or erotic scenes. It can involve real-money purchases. Some ecchi games might have gacha like features, where you collect waifus.

Girl Love (GL) features romantic or sexual relationships between female characters. It overlaps with the yuri genre and includes both emotional and physical storytelling.

Harem (ハーレム) describes a genre where one male character is surrounded by multiple female love interests. Common in both comedic and erotic series in the romance genre.

Hentai (変態) is a genre of adult anime and manga that contains explicit sexual content. It’s one of the most widely recognized categories of NSFW Japanese media. For a less explicit type of content, check > Ecchi.

Husbando (ハズバンド) refers to a fictional male character that a fan considers their ideal partner, typically from anime, manga, or games. Sometimes defined as the male equivalent of the waifu.

Isekai (異世界) refers to stories where a character is transported to another world, often a fantasy realm. This genre frequently includes power fantasies, romance, and sometimes adult themes.

Josei (女性) is a genre aimed at adult women, with stories focusing on realistic relationships, career struggles, and mature romantic or sexual experiences. It appears across many forms of fiction such as webnovels, manga, manhwa and more.

Kouhai (後輩) refers to someone younger or less experienced, often in school or work settings. The dynamic between senpai and kouhai is common in anime relationships.

Lewd refers to sexually suggestive or explicit content. In online anime culture, it’s often used as a tag or descriptor for NSFW material.

Makjang (막장) is a genre known for extreme drama, including cheating, revenge, or dark secrets. Often used in over-the-top erotic or scandal-filled storylines in manhwa.

Manga (漫画) refers to Japanese comic books or graphic novels, often published in black and white. Genres range from family-friendly adventures to explicit adult or “ecchi” stories.

Manhua (漫画) is the term for Chinese comics, often featuring high-quality visuals and themes such as martial arts, historical drama, fantasy, and adult relationships. There are many genres, such as wuxia, xianxia, etc.

Manhwa (만화) is Korean comic art, typically published in full color and scrollable digital format. It includes genres like romance, fantasy, and mature content aimed at adult readers.

Namjoon (남주) is short for namja ju-ingong (남자 주인공), meaning male lead character in a Korean story, like a manhwa or webnovel. Often used in fan discussions of romance plots.

NSFW stands for “Not Safe For Work” and is used to label explicit or adult content that should not be viewed in professional settings. So, if you’re at work right now, go do something that is SFW.

OEL Manga (Original English-Language Manga) refers to comic books or graphic novels created by non-Japanese artists in the style of Japanese manga, originally published in English. These works often emulate traditional manga aesthetics and storytelling techniques, catering to English-speaking audiences.

Oppai (おっぱい) is a Japanese slang term for breasts. It appears frequently in ecchi and hentai anime and manga.

Otaku (オタク) describes someone deeply interested in anime, manga, or gaming culture. In Japan, it can have a negative connotation, but globally it’s often worn with pride.

Reincarnation is a common trope in Asian manga and webnovels where a character dies and is reborn, often with knowledge of their past life. Used in both fantasy and revenge romance plots.

Reverse Harem (逆ハーレム) features a single female character pursued by multiple male characters, often with romantic or sexual tension among the group. It is a common trope in the romance genre.

Romance is a common genre across all manga categories, focusing on love stories between characters. It can be sweet, tragic, or erotically charged depending on the subgenre.

School Life (学園生活 / 学園物) focuses on student life and relationships in school settings. A popular backdrop for romance, comedy, and ecchi content.

Sci-Fi manga includes futuristic technology, space travel, and often dystopian themes. Erotic sci-fi manga may feature androids, alien lovers, or virtual relationships.

Seinen (青年) manga and anime are targeted at adult male audiences, featuring mature themes such as violence, politics, psychological drama, and adult relationships. Yes, yes, including ecchi.

Senpai (先輩) means an upperclassman or someone senior in experience. In anime and manga, it’s often used in school or work settings to signify admiration or romantic tension. Also see > Kouhai.

SFW means “Safe For Work” and refers to content that does not include any explicit or inappropriate material. So, no ecchi allowed!

Shojo (少女) refers to manga and anime targeted at teen girls, often centered on romance, emotions, and personal growth. It may contain mild sensuality but is generally age-appropriate. If you’re looking for more adult themes, check Josei.

Shonen (少年) refers to anime and manga targeted at teenage boys. While generally action-focused and age-appropriate, some shonen works contain mild sexual themes. For adult-themed works of fiction, check Seinen.

Shuangwen (爽文) refers to a “feel-good” power fantasy story where the protagonist quickly becomes overpowered and gets revenge, status, or lovers. Often includes steamy or harem content.

Slice of Life (スライス・オブ・ライフ) is a genre that focuses on everyday life and character interactions. Often used in romantic and erotic works for more grounded, emotional stories. Often featured in Japanese fiction across different genres like anime, manga, doujinshi and more.

Smut is the term for adult-themed stories that contain explicit sexual content. It’s one of the most searched genres among fans of spicy stories, wheter they’re into manga, manhwa, manhua or webnovels.

Tankōbon (単行本) refers to a standalone printed volume that compiles chapters of a manga series, often used for collecting completed arcs in physical or digital format.

Tsundere (ツンデレ) is a character archetype that shows cold or hostile behavior at first but gradually reveals a softer, more affectionate side. Commonly featured in Japanese fiction across different media such as manga, anime, and more.

Villainess (악녀 / Aknyeo) stories follow female leads who are reincarnated as or transformed into the “villain” of a romance plot. These often feature revenge, seduction, and spicy twists. Common in Korean webtoons, webnovels and manhwa.

Virtual Girlfriends are digital companions—often in anime or VTuber style—designed to simulate romantic, friendly, or erotic interaction via chat or voice.

VTuber (ブイチューバー) stands for Virtual YouTuber—online creators who use animated avatars to stream, often engaging in gaming, singing, and occasionally adult-themed content like ASMR.

Waifu (ワイフ) is a fictional female character from anime, manga, or games that a fan feels a strong affection for, often romantic or emotional in nature. Also see > Husbando.

Webnovel or Web Novel refers to online serial fiction published online. Many smut or romance manhwa are adapted from popular webnovels.

Webtoon (웹툰) is a digital-first comic format popular in Korea, designed for mobile reading. Webtoons range from light romance to mature-rated stories with erotic or ecchi themes.

Weeb is slang for a non-Japanese person with an intense obsession with Japanese culture, especially anime and manga. Often used humorously or self-referentially. Short for “weeaboo”, which sometimes is considered more derogatory or silly.

Wuxia (武侠) is a genre of Chinese fiction centered on martial artists in ancient China. It blends sword-fighting, honor, and adventure, and can include romantic or emotional storylines. You can find it across different forms of Chinese fiction such as manhua, webnovels, films and more.

Xianxia (仙侠) combines fantasy and Chinese mythology, often featuring immortals, cultivation powers, and epic quests. Popular in manhua and web novels, with occasional romantic or sensual elements.

Xuanhuan (玄幻) is a genre of Chinese fantasy that mixes Eastern and Western elements. It’s less tied to mythology and more open to original world-building and adult themes. Often appears in Chinese manhua.

Yandere (ヤンデレ) is a character type that appears loving and sweet but becomes obsessively violent or possessive, especially in romantic situations. Commonly featured in Japanese fiction across different media such as manga, anime, and more.

Yaoi (やおい) is a genre of manga and anime focusing on romantic or sexual relationships between male characters, primarily aimed at female readers. Sometimes referred to as BL or Boy Love.

Yeoju (여주) stands for yeoja ju-ingong (여자 주인공), meaning female lead character. Readers often discuss whether the yeoju is likable, relatable, or spicy enough. You might be familiar with this term if you enjoy manhwa or Korean webnovels.

Yuri (百合) is a genre that features romantic or sexual relationships between female characters. Content can range from subtle emotional bonds to explicit scenes. Sometimes referred to as GL or Girl Love.