Complete Hentai Terminology Glossary
Comprehensive dictionary of Japanese adult anime and manga terms with cultural context and academic definitions
This glossary serves as an academic resource for understanding Japanese media terminology. Terms are presented with their linguistic origins, cultural contexts, and usage in media studies discourse. This educational content is intended for researchers, students, and those seeking to understand Japanese popular culture from an analytical perspective.
A
Ahegao
アヘ顔
(ahe-gao)
Artistic
An exaggerated facial expression depicting intense pleasure, characterized by rolled eyes, protruding tongue, and flushed cheeks. Originally from adult manga, the expression has become a recognized meme in internet culture.
The term combines "ahe" (onomatopoeia for panting) and "gao/kao" (face). While originating in adult content, the expression has been adopted in mainstream anime for comedic effect and has become a controversial fashion trend.
Akabon
赤本
(aka-bon)
Historical
"Red books" - cheap manga publications from the post-WWII era (1940s-1950s) printed with red ink on low-quality paper. Some contained adult content and were precursors to modern adult manga.
These publications were crucial in democratizing manga after World War II. Osamu Tezuka and other pioneers published in this format, establishing narrative techniques still used in adult manga today.
Anime
アニメ
(anime)
General
Japanese animation, derived from the English word "animation." In Japan, refers to all animation; internationally, specifically denotes Japanese-produced animation including adult varieties.
The term encompasses all genres and demographics, from children's shows to adult content. The distinction between general and adult anime is made through additional qualifiers rather than separate terminology.
AV
アダルトビデオ
(adaruto bideo)
Industry
Adult Video - term for live-action adult films in Japan. Sometimes adult anime is marketed as "Adult Anime Video" to distinguish from live-action content.
B
Bara
薔薇
(bara)
Genre
Literally "rose," refers to male-male romance/erotic content created by and for gay men, featuring masculine character designs. Distinguished from yaoi/BL which targets female audiences.
The term originates from "Barazoku" (Rose Tribe), Japan's first commercial gay magazine (1971-2004). Bara emphasizes realistic masculine bodies and gay male perspectives, contrasting with the idealized aesthetics of yaoi.
Bishoujo
美少女
(bi-shou-jo)
Character Type
"Beautiful young girl" - an aesthetic concept and character type featuring idealized feminine beauty. Central to many adult anime/manga works and dating simulation games.
The bishoujo aesthetic emerged in the 1970s and became dominant in the 1990s. It represents an idealized, often unrealistic standard of beauty that has been both celebrated and criticized in academic discourse.
BL (Boys' Love)
ボーイズラブ
(bōizu rabu)
Genre
Male-male romantic and erotic content primarily created by and for women. Evolved from yaoi with greater emphasis on emotional relationships and plot development.
BL emerged as a commercial publishing category in the 1990s, distinguishing itself from earlier yaoi through professional production and mainstream distribution. It represents a significant market segment in Japan.
Bukkake
ぶっかけ
(bukkake)
Genre
Originally meaning "splash" or "pour over," referring to a noodle dish. In adult content context, refers to a specific type of group scene. The term has different connotations in culinary versus adult media contexts.
The dual meaning of this term exemplifies how everyday Japanese words can acquire specialized meanings in adult content, often causing confusion for language learners.
C
Comiket
コミケット
(komiketto)
Industry
Comic Market - the world's largest doujinshi fair held biannually in Tokyo. A significant venue for adult doujinshi sales and amateur-to-professional artist development.
Founded in 1975, Comiket attracts over 500,000 attendees. Approximately 35% of circles (vendors) sell adult content, making it crucial for the adult manga ecosystem despite not being exclusively adult-focused.
Cosplay
コスプレ
(kosupure)
Cultural
Costume play - dressing as anime, manga, or game characters. While not inherently adult, cosplay intersects with adult content through character choices and photography genres.
The practice originated in Japan but has become global. "Cosplay AV" refers to adult videos featuring performers in character costumes, while "ero-cosplay" denotes revealing costume photography.
Chikan
痴漢
(chikan)
Genre
Literally "foolish man," refers to public groping, particularly on trains. A controversial genre in adult manga/anime that depicts illegal behavior and has faced criticism for normalizing sexual assault.
This genre highlights ethical debates within adult content creation. Real chikan is a serious crime in Japan with dedicated women-only train cars implemented to combat it.
D
Doujinshi
同人誌
(dōjinshi)
Production
Self-published works, often fan-created content featuring characters from existing properties. A significant portion contains adult content, operating in a legal grey area regarding copyright.
Doujinshi culture is unique to Japan, where copyright holders generally tolerate fan works as long as they remain small-scale. Many professional manga artists began their careers creating adult doujinshi.
Dansei-muke
男性向け
(dansei-muke)
Demographic
"For men" - content specifically targeted at male audiences. The majority of commercial adult anime/manga falls into this category.
This demographic designation influences everything from art style to narrative focus, with emphasis on female character appeal and male viewer identification with protagonists.
DLsite
DLサイト
(DL saito)
Industry
Major Japanese digital distribution platform for doujinshi and independent games, including adult content. One of the primary legitimate sources for digital adult manga.
E
Ecchi
エッチ
(etchi)
Genre
Derived from the pronunciation of "H" (for hentai), refers to sexually suggestive but not explicit content. Includes fan service, partial nudity, and sexual situations without graphic depiction.
Ecchi occupies a middle ground between general and adult content, often appearing in mainstream anime/manga. The distinction between ecchi and hentai varies by culture, with Western audiences often conflating the terms.
Ero
エロ
(ero)
General
Abbreviation of "erotic," commonly used prefix in Japanese to denote adult content. More commonly used than "hentai" in actual Japanese discourse.
Terms like "ero-manga," "ero-anime," and "ero-game" are standard industry terminology in Japan, while "hentai" as a genre designation is primarily a Western convention.
Eroge
エロゲ
(eroge)
Gaming
Erotic game - adult computer games, typically visual novels or dating simulations with explicit content. Major source material for adult anime adaptations.
The eroge industry peaked in the early 2000s and has significantly influenced adult anime aesthetics and narrative structures. Many popular adult anime series originated as eroge.
F
Fan Service
ファンサービス
(fan sābisu)
Narrative
Content included specifically to please fans, often sexual in nature but not exclusively. Includes revealing costumes, suggestive camera angles, and situations designed for viewer gratification.
Originally meaning any bonus content for fans, the term has become associated with sexual content in anime/manga discourse. Not all fan service is sexual; it can include character cameos or references.
Futanari
ふたなり
(futanari)
Genre
Literally "dual form," refers to hermaphroditic or intersex characters in adult content. Often abbreviated as "futa" in Western fandom.
The concept has roots in Japanese mythology and Buddhist concepts of transcending gender. In modern adult content, it represents a specific fetish category with its own aesthetic conventions.
Fujoshi
腐女子
(fujoshi)
Cultural
"Rotten girl" - self-deprecating term for female fans of yaoi/BL content. Male equivalent is "fudanshi" (rotten boy).
The term reflects complex attitudes toward female sexuality in Japan, simultaneously embracing and stigmatizing women's consumption of male-male erotic content.
G
Gekiga
劇画
(gekiga)
Artistic
"Dramatic pictures" - a realistic, mature manga style developed in the 1950s-60s. Many adult manga artists employ gekiga techniques for serious, non-comedic adult content.
Gekiga represented a movement away from Disney-influenced cartoon styles toward realistic human proportions and serious themes, influencing how adult content is visually presented.
Guro
グロ
(guro)
Genre
Short for "grotesque," refers to content featuring gore, body horror, or extreme violence, sometimes combined with erotic elements. Part of the "ero-guro" aesthetic movement.
Ero-guro has roots in 1920s-30s Japanese literature and art, representing a fascination with the grotesque and decadent. Modern guro ranges from horror to extreme fetish content.
Gokkun
ごっくん
(gokkun)
Genre
Onomatopoeia for swallowing, used to describe a specific adult content category. Demonstrates how Japanese sound effects become genre terminology.
H
Hentai
変態
(hentai)
Genre
Literally "metamorphosis" or "abnormality." In Japanese, means "pervert" or "perverted." In Western usage, refers to pornographic anime/manga. Japanese speakers rarely use this term for the genre itself.
The Western adoption of "hentai" as a genre name is a linguistic curiosity. Japanese speakers use "ero-anime" or "18-kin" (18+) instead. The term's evolution reflects cultural translation complexities.
H-scene
Hシーン
(H shīn)
Narrative
Explicit scenes in visual novels or anime. The "H" stands for "hentai" or simply the Roman letter H as a euphemism for sexual content.
Harem
ハーレム
(hāremu)
Genre
Genre featuring one protagonist (usually male) surrounded by multiple romantic interests. Common in both general and adult anime/manga.
The harem genre serves wish-fulfillment fantasies and allows exploration of multiple relationship dynamics within a single narrative. "Reverse harem" features female protagonists with multiple male interests.
I
Isekai
異世界
(isekai)
Genre
"Different world" - genre where protagonists are transported to another world. While primarily a general anime/manga genre, adult versions explore power fantasies and harem scenarios.
The isekai boom of the 2010s influenced adult content, with many adult works adopting isekai settings to justify harem scenarios or power dynamics through fantasy world-building.
Irrumatio
イラマチオ
(iramachio)
Genre
Borrowed from Latin via English, refers to a specific type of oral scene. Demonstrates how adult manga/anime terminology incorporates international terms.
J
Josei
女性
(josei)
Demographic
"Woman" - demographic category for manga/anime targeting adult women. Josei works may contain mature themes and explicit content from female perspectives.
Josei represents a smaller market than shoujo (young girls) but includes sophisticated explorations of sexuality, relationships, and adult life from women's viewpoints.
Juujin
獣人
(jūjin)
Character Type
"Beast person" - anthropomorphic characters with animal characteristics. Related to but distinct from kemonomimi (animal ears only).
K
Kemonomimi
獣耳
(kemonomimi)
Character Type
"Animal ears" - characters with animal ears and sometimes tails but otherwise human appearance. Popular character type in both general and adult content.
Kemonomimi characters (catgirls, fox girls, etc.) blend human and animal characteristics, appealing to both cute (kawaii) aesthetics and specific fetishes. The nekomimi (cat ears) variant is most common.
Kinbaku
緊縛
(kinbaku)
Genre
"Tight binding" - Japanese rope bondage art form. Appears in adult manga/anime as both aesthetic and fetish element. Also called "shibari."
Kinbaku has roots in Edo period martial arts and punishment techniques, evolving into an erotic art form. Its aesthetic influence extends beyond adult content into fashion and fine art.
Kyonyuu
巨乳
(kyonyū)
Character Type
"Huge breasts" - character type or genre focusing on large-breasted characters. Opposite is "hinnyuu" (flat-chested) or "pettanko."
L
Lolicon
ロリコン
(rorikon)
Genre
Portmanteau of "Lolita complex," referring to attraction to young or young-appearing female characters. Highly controversial genre with varying legal status internationally.
The term derives from Nabokov's novel "Lolita." In Japan, refers to both the attraction and the genre. Legal and ethical debates surrounding this content continue globally.
Love Hotel
ラブホテル
(rabu hoteru)
Cultural
Short-stay hotels for couples, frequently featured as settings in adult manga/anime. Part of Japanese urban culture and dating practices.
Love hotels serve practical purposes in Japan where many adults live with family. Their distinctive aesthetics and cultural role make them common settings in adult narratives.
M
Manga
漫画
(manga)
General
Japanese comics, literally "whimsical pictures." Encompasses all genres including adult content. The primary source medium for anime adaptations.
Manga represents roughly 40% of all published material in Japan. Adult manga constitutes a significant market segment with specialized publishers and distribution channels.
Moe
萌え
(moe)
Cultural
Originally "budding," refers to feelings of affection toward fictional characters. Associated with cute, young-looking character designs that dominate modern anime/manga aesthetics.
Moe culture significantly influences adult content aesthetics, creating tension between infantilizing character designs and adult themes. Academic discourse examines moe as both artistic style and consumer phenomenon.
Milf
熟女
(jukujo)
Character Type
Mature women category. The Japanese term "jukujo" (ripe woman) is more commonly used domestically, while "milf" appears in Western-influenced content.
N
Netorare (NTR)
寝取られ
(netorare)
Genre
"Taken away by sleeping" - genre featuring infidelity or romantic/sexual theft, typically from the perspective of the person being cheated on. Evokes feelings of jealousy and loss.
NTR is psychologically complex, appealing to masochistic tendencies and exploring themes of inadequacy and betrayal. Related terms include "netori" (taking someone) and "netorase" (willing sharing).
Nukige
抜きゲー
(nukigē)
Gaming
"Ejaculation game" - eroge (adult games) focused primarily on sexual content rather than story. Contrast with "nakige" (crying games) that emphasize emotional narratives.
Nekomimi
猫耳
(nekomimi)
Character Type
"Cat ears" - characters with cat ears and often tails. The most popular type of kemonomimi character in both general and adult content.
O
Oppai
おっぱい
(oppai)
General
Colloquial term for breasts. Commonly used in adult manga/anime titles and dialogue. Less formal than "mune" (chest) or "chibusa" (breasts).
Otaku
オタク
(otaku)
Cultural
Originally meaning "your house," now refers to obsessive fans of anime, manga, and games. Significant consumers of adult content, though not all otaku engage with adult material.
The otaku demographic drives much of the adult anime/manga market. Academic studies examine otaku culture's relationship with sexuality and parasocial relationships with fictional characters.
OVA
オリジナルビデオアニメーション
(OVA)
Production
Original Video Animation - anime produced for direct-to-video release. Many adult anime are released as OVAs due to content restrictions on broadcast television.
Using This Glossary
This comprehensive glossary serves multiple educational purposes:
- Academic Research: Understanding terminology for media studies and cultural analysis
- Language Learning: Recognizing how Japanese terms evolve and adapt across cultures
- Cultural Studies: Examining how sexual content is categorized and discussed in different societies
- Industry Analysis: Understanding market segmentation and production terminology
Remember that many of these terms have different connotations in Japanese versus international contexts, reflecting the complex nature of cultural translation and global media consumption.