Ecchi (from the Japanese エッチ etchi) is an English word deriving from a Japanese word meaning "lewd" or "naughty" when used as an adjective, and can refer to a pervert or sexual intercourse when used as a noun. (The more standard romanization etchi is not in common use outside of Japan.) Japanese writing Kanji 漢字 Kana 仮名 Hiragana 平仮名 Katakana 片仮名 Manyogana 万葉仮名 Uses Furigana 振り仮名 Okurigana 送り仮名 Rōmaji ローマ字 Romanization of Japanese words, which are written in ideographic characters borrowed from Chinese (kanji) and syllabic scripts (kana) may be done on street signs for foreigners, transcription of names, and in dictionaries and textbooks for learners of the...

Etymology

It is universally agreed that the origin of the Japanese word is the English letter "H". The most common theory states that it derives from the first character of the word hentai (変態), and indeed the two words have similar meanings (although the word hentai cannot be used to refer to sexual intercourse, nor can it be used as a verb). Another theory suggests that the "H" is from the first letter of the word harenchi (破廉恥), a word meaning "shameless" or "lewd". The word originated as a euphemism used by Meiji era female high school and college students in the late 19th century. It became popularized in 1952 with its usage in a serialized novel by Seiichi Funabashi. In the 1990s, it gained its usage as a noun to refer to the sexual act itself. The comedian Sanma Akashiya is often credited with this development and further widespread usage. The modern English alphabet consists of the 26 letters[1] of the Latin alphabet: // Old English The English language has been written using the Latin alphabet from ca. ... H is also a multi a-side single by Japanese singer Ayumi Hamasaki. ... Hentai magazines on display in Japan Hentai ) is a Japanese word that means transformation or aberration and is used in biology to refer to metamorphosis. ... History of Japan Paleolithic Jomon Yayoi Yamato period ---Kofun period ---Asuka period Nara period Heian period Kamakura period Muromachi period Azuchi-Momoyama period ---Nanban period Edo period Meiji period Taisho period Showa period ---Japanese expansionism ---Occupied Japan ---Post-Occupation Japan Heisei The Meiji period (Japanese: Meiji Jidai 明治時代 ) (1868–1912... Sanma Akashiya (明石家さんま Akashiya Sanma, born July 3, 1955 in Kushimoto, Wakayama Prefecture, raised up in Nara) is a Japanese TV comedian and actor. ...

Japanese usage

Etchi as an adjective can be translated as lewd or sexy, while as a noun it can be translated as sexual intercourse, e.g. to do etchi (etchi suru) would mean to have sex. The word sekkusu is also used in Japan for sex, and Japanese native words for sex (such as 性交 seikō) are often replaced by words of foreign origin such as sekkusu or neologisms such as etchi. The nuance of etchi varies with context, but in general the word itself is comparable in nuance to the English words "naughty" or "dirty" (when used as an adjective). The prefix "H-" is sometimes used to refer to pornographic genres: H-anime, H-manga, etc. A neologism is a word, term, or phrase which has been recently created (coined) — often to apply to new concepts, or to reshape older terms in newer language form. ...

English usage

In English, the word is often used in the context of manga and anime. The term ecchi is applied to anime or manga that has vague sexual content (such as skimpy clothing, partial or full nudity), but does not show sexual intercourse. However, ecchi has historically often been used as a synonym of hentai, presumably due to confusion of the two; thus it can carry different connotations than allowed for by the original Japanese. In recent years, however, its use by English-speakers has largely realigned with the Japanese meaning — although H (pronounced as the standard aitch) has become a completely separate term, inclusive of all of the above. For other uses, see Manga (disambiguation). ... // A scene from Cowboy Bebop (1998) Anime ), which is short for the English word animation, in the western world most popularly refers (but not limited) to the medium of animation originating in Japan, with distinctive character and background aesthetics that visually set it apart from other forms of animation (e. ...

The ecchi art style is loosely comparable to pin-up girl artwork, as well provocative fantasy and comic book art in the United States and other countries. Typical features include: This image of Betty Grable became the archetype of pin-ups during World War II A pin-up girl is a model whose mass-produced pictures see wide appeal as pop culture. ... A comic book is a magazine or book containing the art form of comics. ...

• Clothing that outlines the shape of the breasts, nipples, and labia, suggesting tightness of clothing and arousal.
• Uniforms, costumes, or outfits that may be provocative, but are worn as everyday clothing by the character.
• Characters who are unaware of their sexuality, appear innocent or cheerful, or sly and mischievous.
• Clothing that is falling off or being pulled off, notably swimsuits.
• Upskirt panty shots and cleavage.
• Suggestive or phallic imagery, such as Japanese mayonnaise bottles.
• Exaggerated sexual attributes, often on normal or petite figures to give a sense of contrast. Especially used in dōjinshi and fanart, where a character may appear more sexualized than normal.
• Cute or innocent character with obvious sexual appearance or clothing.
• The occasional bare breast(s) (with and without nipples), but no nudity below the navel or vaginal slit is not included on female model.

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External links

• Anime Portal || More than 100 anime reviews and 24 hours online radio
• The 'H does not mean hentai' page
• Trump of the Japanese studio "Team Shuffle"'s take on H vs Hentai
• Literally gigantic ecchi website