The definitive A–Z guide to manga terminology. Every term you need to read, create, and talk about manga fluently.
52+ terms · Updated 2026
Use the A–Z navigation above to jump to any letter. Click the blue links within definitions to explore related manga series, creator biographies, and in-depth guides. New to manga? Start with Manga, Shōnen, and Tankōbon for the essential vocabulary.
A single strand or tuft of hair that sticks straight up from a character's head. Ahoge (literally "idiot hair") is a visual shorthand for a character who is cheerful, air-headed, or lovably dim. Usagi Tsukino in Sailor Moon and Taiga in Toradora both sport ahoge.
A deluxe collected edition of a manga series, usually released years after original publication. Aizōban editions often feature upgraded paper quality, restored artwork, author commentary, and exclusive illustrations. They are aimed at collectors rather than new readers.
A manga magazine or volume that collects multiple short stories, usually by different creators, often tied to a specific theme or genre. Weekly Shonen Jump is technically an anthology magazine, serializing 15–20 separate manga simultaneously in each weekly issue.
A self-contained storyline within a longer manga series. Major arcs typically run 5–30 chapters, introduce a specific conflict and cast of characters, and resolve before the series advances to the next arc. One Piece is famous for its distinct arcs (Arlong Park, Skypiea, Marineford, etc.), each functioning almost as a standalone story.
Literally "beautiful girl." A character archetype featuring an idealized young female character with large eyes, delicate features, and exaggerated femininity. Common in shōnen, harem, and romantic comedy manga. The term is also used to describe an entire genre of games and visual novels featuring such characters.
Literally "beautiful boy." A male character archetype with androgynous or delicate features — slender build, refined face, and elegant appearance. Bishōnen are extremely common in shōjo manga and are often love interests. Examples include Tamaki Suoh (Ouran Host Club) and Zero (Vampire Knight).
A compact, pocket-sized manga edition printed at roughly A6 size, smaller than the standard tankōbon. Bunkoban editions are affordable reprints designed for portability, often sold in convenience stores and bookstores years after original publication. Popular for classic series like Dragon Ball and Slam Dunk.
A super-deformed art style where characters are drawn with exaggeratedly large heads, tiny bodies, and simplified facial features. Used for comedic or cute effect, chibi depictions often appear as gag panels within serious manga or in bonus content. The word originally means "small" or "short person" in Japanese.
The dominant professional software for digital manga creation, known in Japan as Manga Studio. It features manga-specific tools including panel rulers, built-in screentone libraries, perspective rulers, and G-pen brush emulation. The majority of professional manga published today in Japan is produced using Clip Studio Paint.
Self-published fan comics or zines, most commonly featuring characters from existing manga, anime, or video games. Doujinshi exist in a legal grey area in Japan — they are technically copyright infringement but are tolerated by most publishers as fan activity. Comiket (Comic Market) in Tokyo is the world's largest doujinshi fair, attracting over 700,000 attendees twice a year.
An illustration or panel that spans two facing pages of a manga volume. Spreads are reserved for the most visually spectacular or emotionally significant moments — a climactic battle reveal, a breathtaking landscape, or a critical character introduction. Mangaka like Kentaro Miura (Berserk) and Yukinobu Tatsu (Dandadan) are renowned for their spreads.
A genre or content rating indicating mild sexual content — suggestive themes, fan service, and innuendo, but stopping short of explicit material. The term comes from the Japanese pronunciation of the letter "H," itself an abbreviation of "hentai." Ecchi content is common in shōnen and harem manga aimed at teen male readers.
Content inserted primarily to please fans rather than advance the plot — typically revealing clothing, suggestive poses, or references to popular characters. The term originated in anime but applies equally to manga. Fan service ranges from mild (swimsuit chapters) to explicit, and its degree is often a distinguishing factor between genre ratings.
Anime episodes or arcs not based on the original manga, created to prevent the anime from catching up to the still-publishing source material. Filler is an anime-specific concept (manga itself has no filler) but is important for manga readers choosing which medium to follow. Naruto's anime is infamous for its high filler percentage (~41%). Most reading order guides recommend skipping filler.
Small hiragana characters printed alongside kanji to indicate pronunciation. Furigana appears extensively in shōnen manga published in Weekly Shonen Jump to ensure young readers can follow along without advanced kanji knowledge. Learning to read furigana is one of the first steps for manga fans studying Japanese.
The most widely used dip pen nib for manga inking. The G-pen (also called a "globe pen") produces pressure-sensitive lines that vary from razor-thin to bold depending on applied force — the defining linework quality of manga. It is made by Zebra and Nikko, and is typically the first nib taught in manga art education.
A side story or spin-off that runs parallel to or after a main series, usually focusing on a secondary character or untold backstory. Famous examples include Naruto Gaiden (focusing on Kakashi), Dragon Ball minus (Goku's parents), and the numerous Fullmetal Alchemist gaiden chapters. The word literally means "outside transmission."
A style of manga developed in the late 1950s and 1960s that emphasizes realism, dark themes, and cinematic panel composition. Coined by Yoshihiro Tatsumi as a deliberate alternative to the word "manga," gekiga was a protest against manga's association with children's entertainment. Tatsumi's "A Drifting Life" is the defining work of the movement.
A manga genre where one protagonist — usually male — is surrounded by multiple romantic interests. The central character must navigate relationships with a cast of distinct personalities, each representing a different character archetype (tsundere, kuudere, genki girl, etc.). Love Hina by Ken Akamatsu helped define the modern harem genre.
Suffixes attached to names in Japanese that indicate relationship and respect level. The main manga honorifics are: -san (respectful neutral), -kun (for younger males), -chan (affectionate), -sama (highly deferential), -senpai (upperclassman), and -sensei (teacher/doctor/artist). Many English translations retain honorifics with a glossary.
A genre where the protagonist is transported from their ordinary life to a fantasy, sci-fi, or parallel world. Isekai exploded in popularity during the 2010s, producing hundreds of titles. Subgenres include "truck-kun isekai" (death by truck followed by reincarnation), reincarnation isekai, and villainess isekai. Key titles: Re:Zero, Sword Art Online, No Game No Life, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime.
A manga demographic targeting adult women, typically ages 18–40. Josei manga feature more realistic and mature portrayals of romance, relationships, and daily life compared to shōjo. Notable josei titles include Nana (Ai Yazawa), Chihayafuru, and Butterflies, Flowers. The word josei simply means "woman" or "female" in Japanese.
The Japanese concept of cuteness, encompassing a broad aesthetic that includes wide eyes, small features, soft colors, and endearing vulnerability. Kawaii aesthetics deeply influence manga art styles, particularly in shōjo, slice-of-life, and moe genres. The cultural phenomenon extends far beyond manga into fashion, product design, and pop culture.
Manga created specifically for young children, targeting ages 4–12. Kodomomuke titles emphasize simple moral lessons, accessible art, and non-threatening content. Famous examples include Doraemon (Fujiko F. Fujio), Anpanman, and Pokémon Adventures. This is distinct from shōnen, which targets older boys (12–18).
Japanese prose novels targeted at middle school to high school readers, typically featuring anime-style cover illustrations and chapter illustrations throughout. Many light novels are adapted into manga or anime. Famous light novel series include Sword Art Online, Re:Zero, Overlord, and Monogatari. The format bridges manga and conventional fiction.
Japanese comics created according to a distinctive artistic and narrative tradition. The word manga (literally "whimsical pictures") is attributed to the woodblock print artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849), though modern manga emerged in the post-WWII era. Manga is typically published in weekly or monthly anthology magazines before being collected into tankōbon volumes, and read from right to left.
A professional manga artist — someone who creates manga as their primary career. The word combines "manga" with "ka" (家, meaning practitioner or expert). Most mangaka have at least one assistant helping with backgrounds, toning, and inking. Weekly serialization mangaka work under extraordinary pressure, producing 17–19 pages of finished artwork per week.
A Japanese establishment where customers pay an hourly rate to read from a library of thousands of manga volumes, usually alongside internet access, refreshments, and private booths. Manga cafés (also called "manga kissa") are popular throughout Japan for affordable entertainment and have contributed to manga's accessibility without requiring personal purchase.
A feeling of affection, endearment, or protectiveness evoked by manga and anime characters — typically associated with cute, innocent, or vulnerable traits. The word derives from the Japanese verb for "to bud" (萌える). Moe aesthetics strongly influence the character designs of slice-of-life and cute girls doing cute things (CGDCT) manga.
A monthly manga magazine published by Shueisha, sister publication to Weekly Shonen Jump. Monthly Jump serializes manga on a monthly release schedule rather than weekly, allowing mangaka more time per chapter. Bleach originally ran in Weekly Shonen Jump; Fullmetal Alchemist ran in Monthly GFantasy (Square Enix).
The manga storyboard — a rough draft of a chapter showing panel layout, character placement, rough dialogue, and action flow. The nemu is submitted to an editor for approval before the mangaka begins final linework. Editors frequently request revisions at the nemu stage. The nemu is the most creatively intensive part of manga production.
Bonus content included at the end of manga volumes — short comics, character profiles, author commentary, or illustrations not part of the main story. Omake gives mangaka a chance to break the fourth wall, show character humor, or provide world-building details. Some beloved omake (like the "Gaiden" chapters in One Piece volumes) become famous in their own right.
A complete manga story told in a single chapter, typically 15–45 pages. One-shots are the standard format for manga award submissions and the first step in a mangaka's career. Many famous serialized manga began as one-shots testing the concept with readers — Chainsaw Man, My Hero Academia, and Naruto all had prototype one-shots.
A person with an obsessive interest in anime, manga, and related Japanese popular culture. Originally a somewhat derogatory term in Japan (implying social awkwardness and excessive hobby obsession), "otaku" has been partially reclaimed internationally as a neutral or even proud self-identifier for passionate manga and anime fans.
The individual frames or boxes that make up a manga page. Panel composition — their size, arrangement, borders, and flow — is one of the most important skills in manga creation. Larger panels convey weight and importance; smaller panels create rhythm. Splash pages (one panel per full page) are reserved for the most dramatic moments.
The standard reading direction for Japanese manga — pages are read from right to left, and within each page, panels are read from the top-right corner toward the bottom-left. This is natural for Japanese (which is written right-to-left vertically) but initially confusing for Western readers. Most English manga releases are unflipped and preserve the original right-to-left reading order.
Pre-printed patterned sheets applied to manga pages to create shading, texture, and gray values in a black-and-white medium. Traditional screentone is adhesive film cut and burnished onto inked pages; digital screentone replicates this as a layer in software like Clip Studio Paint. Dot density and line density are measured in LPI (lines per inch). Screentone is one of manga's most distinctive visual elements.
Manga demographic targeting adult men, approximately ages 18–40. Seinen manga often features more mature themes, complex narratives, moral ambiguity, and realistic violence compared to shōnen. Famous seinen titles include Berserk, Vinland Saga, Vagabond, Monster, Punpun, and Tokyo Ghoul. The word seinen means "young man" or "youth."
A title meaning "teacher" or "master" — used to address mangaka (manga artists), doctors, lawyers, and teachers. Fan communities often address their favorite mangaka as "sensei" as a sign of respect. In manga dialogue, the term signals a teaching or authority relationship between characters.
The process of publishing a manga story in installments — weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly — in an anthology magazine before collecting chapters into volumes. Serialization is the backbone of the manga industry. A serialized mangaka produces new chapters continuously for years or decades. The Weekly Shonen Jump reader ranking survey determines which series get continued serialization and which face cancellation.
The manga demographic targeting young girls, approximately ages 10–18. Shōjo manga typically emphasizes emotional relationships, personal growth, and detailed character interiority. Visual tropes include large expressive eyes, flowing hair, floral backgrounds, and soft linework. Key titles: Sailor Moon, Fruits Basket, Cardcaptor Sakura, Ouran High School Host Club.
The manga demographic targeting young boys, approximately ages 12–18. Shōnen manga emphasizes action, friendship, competition, and self-improvement — often encapsulated in the "power of friendship" narrative formula. Weekly Shonen Jump is the dominant shōnen magazine. Key titles: Naruto, One Piece, Dragon Ball, My Hero Academia, Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen.
A single dramatic illustration that occupies an entire manga page, with no panel borders or competing elements. Splash pages are used for major reveals, chapter openers, or the most visually impactful moment in an arc. A double splash page spreads across two facing pages and is reserved for the most spectacular scenes in a chapter.
A manga derived from an existing series, focusing on different characters or a parallel storyline. Famous spin-offs include Boruto (Naruto spin-off), Dragon Ball Super manga, Assassination Classroom Zero (Assassination Classroom spin-off), and Magi: Adventure of Sinbad. Spin-offs may be canonical or non-canonical depending on creator involvement.
The standard format for collected manga volumes — individual books collecting approximately 7–10 chapters of a serialized manga. A standard tankōbon is approximately 180–200 pages, roughly A5 size (148mm × 210mm). Most readers follow manga in tankōbon form, waiting for enough chapters to accumulate before reading the arc as a complete book.
The "God of Manga" — the creator who established the visual language and narrative conventions of modern manga. Tezuka (1928–1989) created Astro Boy, Black Jack, Phoenix, Buddha, and dozens of other landmark works. He introduced cinematic techniques to manga (close-ups, widescreen panels, motion blur), and his influence is visible in virtually every manga published today.
A character archetype combining "tsun-tsun" (cold/hostile) and "dere-dere" (lovestruck/sweet) — someone who initially appears cold, harsh, or hostile toward their love interest but gradually reveals a warm, affectionate side. Iconic tsundere characters include Asuka Langley (Evangelion), Taiga Aisaka (Toradora), and Vegeta (Dragon Ball Z — a shōnen variant of the archetype).
A bound collection of manga chapters — see Tankōbon. "Volume" is the standard Western term for what Japanese readers call a tankōbon or kan (巻). Most manga series release one new volume every 1–3 months while being actively serialized. Completed series have a fixed volume count; ongoing series continue adding volumes indefinitely.
A digital comics format originating in South Korea, designed for vertical scrolling on smartphones. Unlike traditional manga with fixed page layouts, webtoons are formatted as a continuous vertical strip. LINE Webtoon is the dominant platform. Webtoons often feature full color, in contrast to manga's traditional black-and-white. Popular webtoons include Tower of God, Noblesse, and Lore Olympus.
A character archetype derived from "yanderu" (mentally ill/sick) and "dere-dere" (lovestruck). A yandere character begins as kind and loving but becomes obsessive, possessive, and potentially violent when their love interest is threatened. Yuno Gasai from Mirai Nikki is the archetypal yandere character.
Supernatural beings from Japanese folklore — ghosts, demons, spirits, and monstrous entities. Yokai are a central element of horror manga, fantasy manga, and many classic series. Osamu Tezuka's Dororo, Shigeru Mizuki's GeGeGe no Kitaro (which defined the yokai genre), and modern series like Noragami all draw heavily from yokai mythology.
A manga genre depicting romantic and/or sexual relationships between female characters. The term means "lily" in Japanese and was popularized as a genre label in fan communities. Yuri ranges from completely wholesome romance (shoujo-ai) to explicit content. Notable yuri titles include Bloom Into You, Citrus, and the classic Revolutionary Girl Utena.
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