View source for Ecchi

{{Short description|Japanese term for playful sexual actions}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Pp-move-indef}}
{{Globalize||the Western world|date=June 2020}}
{{Excessive examples|date=September 2022}}
[[File:Anime Girl.svg|thumb|Clothing which is short or transparent is a typical element in works considered in the West as ''ecchi''.<ref name="steiff-2010">{{cite book |last1=Steiff |first1=Josef |url=https://archive.org/details/animephilosophyw0000unse |title=Anime and Philosophy |last2=Tamplin |first2=Tristan D. |publisher=Open Court Puplishing |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-8126-9670-7 |series=Popular Culture and Philosophy |volume=47 |url-access=registration}}</ref>]]
{{Anime and manga|General}}

{{Nihongo|'''''Ecchi'''''|エッチ|etchi|extra={{IPA|ja|et.tɕi|pron}}}} is a [[slang]] term in the [[Japanese language]] for playfully sexual actions. As an [[adjective]], it is used with the meaning of "sexy", "dirty" or "naughty"; as a [[verb]], {{nihongo4||エッチする or Ｈする|ecchi suru}} means "to have sex", and as a [[noun]], it is used to describe someone of [[lascivious behavior]]. It is softer than the Japanese word ''{{lang|ja-latn|ero}}'' ({{lang|ja|エロ|italic=no}} from "[[Eros]]" or "erotic"), and does not imply perversion in the way ''[[hentai]]'' does.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}

The word ''ecchi'' has been adopted by western fans of Japanese media to describe works with sexual overtones. In western culture, it has come to be used to refer to [[Softcore pornography|softcore]] or playful sexuality, as distinct from the word ''hentai'', which connotes perversion or [[Sexual fetishism|fetishism]].<ref name="s.keller-2008">Sebastian Keller: ''Der Manga und seine Szene in Deutschland von den Anfängen in den 1980er Jahren bis zur Gegenwart: Manga- mehr als nur große Augen'', GRIN Verlag, 2008, {{ISBN|978-3-638-94029-0}}, p. 127</ref> Works described as ecchi by the western fans do not show [[sexual intercourse]] or [[genitalia]], but sexual themes are referenced. ''Ecchi'' themes are a type of [[fan service]], and can be found in most comedy [[shōnen]] and [[seinen manga]] and [[Harem (genre)|harem]] [[anime]].<ref name="r.brenner">Robin E. Brenner: ''[[iarchive:understandingman0000bren|Understanding manga and anime]].'' Libraries Unlimited, 2007, {{ISBN|978-1-59158-332-5}}, p. 89.</ref><ref name="askjohn">Ask John: [http://www.animenation.net/ask-john-why-do-americans-hate-harem-anime/ Why Do Americans Hate Harem Anime?]. animenation.net. May 20. 2005. Note: fan service and ecchi refer to similar concepts.</ref>

== Etymology and use in Japan ==
The correct transcription of the word {{lang|ja|エッチ}} in [[Hepburn romanization|Hepburn]] notation is "{{lang|ja-latn|etchi}}".<ref>After the sources of the article [[Hepburn romanization]]. In Hepburn, the [[sokuon]] (っ, small ''tsu'') is romanized ''t'' before ''ch''.</ref> However, it is typically written as "ecchi" in the Western world.

''Etchi'' in and of itself is merely an abbreviation of ''[[hentai]]''. There is no distinction between "hardcore" ''hentai'' and "softcore" ''etchi'' in proper Japanese. See [[Hentai#Etymology]] for further etymology.

''{{lang|ja-latn|Hentai}}'' was introduced in the [[Meiji period]] as a term for ''change of form'' or ''transformation'' in science and [[psychology]]. In this context, it was used to refer to disorders such as [[hysteria]] or to describe [[paranormal phenomena]] like [[hypnosis]] or [[telepathy]].<ref name="hikaru-2004">{{cite book |last=Hikaru |first=Saitō |title=Hentai—H |pages=45–58 |publisher=Kōdansha gendaishinsho |year=2004 |edition=Kansai seiyoku kenkyūkai |series=Sei no yōgoshū}}</ref> Slowly, the meaning expanded until it had the meaning of ''non-standard''. In the 1910s, it was used in [[sexology]] in the compound expression "{{lang|ja-latn|hentai seiyoku}}" ({{lang|ja|変態性欲}}, ''abnormal sexual desire<ref>{{cite book |first=Jennifer |last=Robertson |title=Gender and the State in Japan |publisher=The George Washington University Institute for Ethnographic Research |volume=64 |series=Theatrical Resistance, Theatres of Restraint: The Takarazuka Revue and the "State Theatre" Movement in Japan |year=1991 |pages=165–177}}</ref>'', which is rephrased as "[[sexual perversion]]" in modern times) and became popular within the theory of sexual deviance (''{{lang|ja-latn|Hentai seiyoku ron}}''), published by Eiji Habuto and Jun'ichirō Sawada in 1915.<ref>{{cite book |first=Jennifer |last=Robertson |title=Dying to Tell: Sexuality and Suicide in Imperial Japan |publisher=The University of Chicago Press |volume=25 |year=1999 |page=21}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first=Jim |last=Reichert |title=Deviance and Social Darwinism in Edogawa Ranpo's Erotic-Grotesque Thriller "Kotō no oni" |series=Journal of Japanese Studies |publisher=The Society for Japanese Studies |volume=27 |page=128}}</ref> In the 1920s, many publications dealt with deviant sexual desires and the {{lang|ja-latn|[[ero guro nansensu]]}} movement. Goichi Matsuzawa calls it a period characterized by a "''hentai boom''".<ref>[[Goichi Matsuzawa]] (1997). ''Meiji, Taishō, Shōwa, kindai fūzoku shuppan no rekishi, Ero no hon''. Tokyo. Wani no ana. p. 55</ref> In the 1930s, censorship became more common, leading to fewer books being published on this theme.<ref>[[Sabine Frühstück]] (2003). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=77gwDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA15 Colonizing Sex: Sexology and Social Control in Modern Japan]''. University of California Press. {{ISBN|0-520-23548-7}}. p. 15</ref>

{{anchor|H}}After the Second World War, in the 1950s, interest in hentai was renewed, and people would sometimes refer to it just by the first English letter, ''H'' (pronounced as {{lang|ja|エッチ}}, {{IPAc-ja|e|'|t|ti}}). In 1952, the magazine ''Shukan Asahi'' reported that a woman who was groped by a stranger in a movie theater reacted with ''"{{lang|ja-latn|ara etchi yo}}"'' (''"hey, that's perverse"''). In this context, ''{{lang|ja-latn|etchi}}'' should be understood as ''sexually forward'' and is synonymous to ''{{lang|ja-latn|iyarashii}}'' ({{lang|ja|嫌らしい}}, dirty or disgusting) or ''{{lang|ja-latn|sukebe}}'' ({{lang|ja|すけべ}}, a person with sex on the brain). From this, the word ''{{lang|ja-latn|etchi}}'' started to branch off, and assume new connotations. In the 1960s, ''{{lang|ja-latn|etchi}}'' started to be used by youth to refer to sex in general. By the 1980s, it was used to mean ''sex'', as in the phrase ''{{lang|ja-latn|etchi suru}}'' (to have sex).<ref name="hikaru-2004"/><ref>[[Mark McLelland]] (2006). "A Short History of 'Hentai'{{-"}}.  In: ''Intersections: Gender, History and Culture in the Asian Context''. Vol. 12.</ref><ref>{{cite book | last = Cunningham | first = Phillip J. | title = Zakennayo! | page = 30 | publisher = Penguin Group | year = 1995}}</ref>

Other neologisms such as ''{{lang|ja-latn|sekkusu}}'' are often used to refer to sex, in addition to the term ''ecchi.'' ''Ecchi'' is now used as a qualifier for anything related to erotic or pornographic content. Its exact meaning varies with context, but in general, it is most similar to the English word "naughty" (when used as an adjective). The Japanese media tend to use other words, e.g. ''ero-manga'' ({{lang|ja|エロ}}), ''adult manga'' ({{lang|ja|アダルト}}), or anime / manga for persons over 18 years ({{lang|ja|18禁アニメ}}, {{lang|ja|18禁}}). The prefix "H-" is also sometimes used to refer to pornographic genres, e.g. H-anime, H-manga, etc.

== Western usage ==
In Japan, {{nihongo||お色気漫画|oiroke manga}} is used to describe manga with very light or playful erotic content, such as is found in [[shonen manga]]. In western nations, though, ''ecchi'' has become the preferred term. The more explicit {{nihongo|{{tlit|ja|seijin}} manga|成人向け漫画|seijinmukemanga}} are more likely to be referred to as hentai in the west. This does correlate to a similar distinction in Japanese. For instance, if a young woman were to call a young man {{tlit|ja|etchi}}, that might be construed as flirting, whereas {{tlit|ja|hentai}} sounds more like condemnation.<ref>Jonathan Clements, Helen McCarthy: ''The anime encyclopedia: a guide to Japanese animation since 1917'', Edition 2, Stone Bridge Press, 2006, University of California, {{ISBN|1-933330-10-4}}, p. 30</ref>{{clarify|date=March 2024|reason=Does this source claim that this is the reason why "ecchi" is used the way it is in English? What makes it any different from an English speaker saying "SA" instead of "sexual assault," or "unalive" instead of "kill"? This apparent "correlation" appears to be mostly a pragmatic matter, not a conscious distinction between two sufficiently distinct categories.}}

Works aimed at a female audience can contain scenes which are seen as ecchi. Examples are ''R-18 Love Report!'' from Emiko Sugi and {{tlit|ja|[[Oruchuban Ebichu]]}} from [[Risa Itō]], which are aimed at the {{tlit|ja|[[shōjo]]}} and {{tlit|ja|[[josei]]}} audience, but contain rather explicit content.<ref name="r.brenner"/><ref name="askjohn"/>

Common elements of ecchi include conversations with sexual references or misunderstandings (e.g. [[double entendre]] or [[Sexual innuendo|innuendo]]), misunderstandings in visual depictions (e.g. suggestive posing), revealing or sexualized clothing (e.g. underwear or [[cosplay]]), nudity (e.g. ripped apart clothing, wet clothing, clothing malfunctions) and the portrayal of certain actions (e.g. groping). This kind of sexuality is often used for comical effect. A typical example scene would contain a male protagonist that trips over a female character, giving the impression of sexual harassment.

The concept of ecchi is very closely related to [[fan service]]. While fan service describes every aspect to please the fans, ecchi relates to sexual themes. A special kind of fan service, that is usually bound or justified by the narrative.<ref>Robin E. Brenner: ''[[iarchive:understandingman0000bren|Understanding Manga and Anime]]''. Libraries Unlimited, 2007, {{ISBN|1-59158-332-2}}, p. 295</ref>

=== Typical examples ===
{{More citations needed section|date=September 2025}}

There are many elements that may classify a work as ecchi, but these elements have to occur quite often (for example, in all episodes of a show). Graphically speaking, different techniques are used to show sexy pictures, usually by revealing parts of the female body such as the back or breasts. Some of these patterns are recurrent, such as scenes in a shower, [[onsen|hot springs ({{tlit|ja|onsen}})]], or fighting scenes in which clothes are torn apart. The imagination of characters is also a common device for showing their sexual fantasies, as well as transformation scenes of [[magical girl]]s. In the end, any excuse is valid to show a character partially or completely nude.<ref name="steiff-2010">{{cite book |last1=Steiff |first1=Josef |url=https://archive.org/details/animephilosophyw0000unse |title=Anime and Philosophy |last2=Tamplin |first2=Tristan D. |publisher=Open Court Puplishing |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-8126-9670-7 |series=Popular Culture and Philosophy |volume=47 |url-access=registration}}</ref>

==== Nudity ====
[[File:Censorship in anime.jpg|thumb|Censorship with artificial light rays is one common method to hide some elements in [[anime]] television series. The degree of censorship can vary widely across television stations, even among those broadcasting the series at the same time.]]

Levels of nudity vary strongly between works, depending on the intended audience and the preferences of the authors. For example, in some cases, though the breasts are shown on the screen, nipples and genitals are obscured by props, clothing, or effects. This kind of censorship was typical for [[Lala Satalin Deviluke]] in ''[[To Love Ru]]'', Blair in ''[[Soul Eater (manga)|Soul Eater]]'' and [[Asuka Langley Soryu]] from ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion]]''. Conversely, in ''[[Ladies versus Butlers!]]'' and other such anime, the nipples are clearly visible through clothing, no matter how thick it is. In any case [[nosebleed]]s as a comedic [[Trope (literature)|trope]] are a typical masculine reaction to female nudity or semi-nudity inasmuch as they represent one extremely exaggerated component of [[sexual arousal]] – increased [[blood pressure]].

==== Panties ====
[[File:PanchiraIlustration.png|thumb|Innocently visible knickers]]
The use of panty shots ({{tlit|ja|[[panchira]]}}), or visibility of the underwear ([[panties]]), is one common motif. Typically the male character will react in an exaggerated manner and be castigated. Furthermore the color and style of the panties are an indication of the character, personality, and range sexual experience (or lack of it) female character, e.g. white for the innocent, striped for the shy, and red for the experienced. Panties are the main theme in some ecchi (for instance, ''[[Chobits]]'' and ''[[Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt]]''), but they can also appear in other anime simply for a bit of gratuitous sex appeal.{{citation needed|date=September 2025}}

==== Sexual activity ====
Although revealing or sexualized clothing, nudity or groping may occur in ecchi works, there usually is no explicit sexual intercourse in such works (although in the West they may be erroneously classified as [[hentai]]). Furthermore in this genre may appear that whilst it appears that a couple ''are'' having sex. E.g. the two may be seen in silhouette from outside a tent, or making sounds during exertion.<ref name="steiff-2010"/>

==See also==
{{Portal|Anime and manga|Erotica and pornography}}
* [[Adult animation]]
* [[Cartoon pornography]]
* [[Doujinshi]]
* [[Exhibitionism]]
* [[Fan service]]
* [[Hentai]]
* [[Not safe for work]]
* [[Nudity in film]]
* [[Rule 34]]
* [[Scopophilia]]
* [[Softcore pornography|Softcore porn]]
* [[Thirst trap]]
* [[Voyeurism]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Animation industry in Japan}}
{{Lists of anime}}
{{Film genres}}

[[Category:Ecchi anime and manga| ]]
[[Category:Anime and manga genres]]
[[Category:Anime and manga terminology]]
[[Category:Japanese sex terms]]
[[Category:Pornography]]