Ecchi (or Etchi, from the Japanese エッチ etchi) is derived from a Japanese word meaning "lewd", "sexy", "lascivious", or "naughty" when used as an adjective, and can refer to sexual intercourse when used as a verb or noun.
Etymology
The purported origin of the Japanese word is the Latin alphabet letter "H"[1]. The most common theory states that it derives from the first character of the word hentai (変態),[2] 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".[citation needed] A third etymology theory is that "ecchi" comes from the first letter in "himitsu" (秘密), a Japanese word meaning "secret" and "secrecy". 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.
Japanese usage
Ecchi as an adjective can be translated as lewd or sexy, while as a verb it can be translated as sexual intercourse, e.g. to do ecchi (ecchi 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 ecchi.
A person who is overly interested in sexual gratification is called a sukebe (助平).Sukebe is also a term for general lewdness, making its loosest definition overlap somewhat with the meaning of the word ecchi.
The nuance of ecchi 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.
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. 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 has become a completely separate term, inclusive of all of the above.
The ecchi art style is loosely comparable to pin-up girl artwork, as well as to provocative fantasy and comic book art in the United States and other countries. Typical features include:
- Clothing that outlines the shape of the breasts, nipples, and labia, suggesting tightness of clothing and arousal.
- Uniforms, costumes, or outfits (all tightly worn) that may be provocative, but are worn as everyday clothing by the character.
- Bouncing of over-size breasts.
- The common gag that is usually pulled off in anime, the "head in breasts gag" that is commonly used when a male meets a busty female and falls into her cleavage.
- Characters who are unaware of their sexuality, appear innocent and cheerful, or sly and mischievous.
- The groping of breasts (whether intentional or not.)
- Clothing that is falling off or being pulled off, notably swimsuits and "sailor"-style schoolgirl uniforms.
- Upskirt panty shots and cleavage.
- Suggestive or phallic imagery.
- 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 sexual than normal.
- The occasional bare breast(s) or bottom, but the genital area is never shown.
- Skimpy bathing suits with crotch lines showing and sides of breasts showing.
- E.N.F (Embarrassed Nude Female): A female character fully/almost nude in public showing signs of embarrassment, humiliation or acting completely normally.
