Editing Ecchi (section)

== Western usage ==
In Japan, oiroke manga (お色気漫画) 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 {{lang|ja-latn|seijin}} manga ({{lang|ja|成人向け漫画|italic=no}}, ''{{lang|ja-latn|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 ''{{lang|ja-latn|e(t/c)chi}}'', that might be construed as flirting, whereas ''{{lang|ja-latn|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 ''{{lang|ja-latn|[[Oruchuban Ebichu]]}}'' from [[Risa Itō]], which are aimed at the {{lang|ja-latn|[[shōjo]]}} and [[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=May 2011}}

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 (''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"/>

==== 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 ''([[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=April 2022}}

==== 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"/>