Chinese Anime and Manga Lingo Every Fan Should Know
From 二次元 to 中二病: The essential vocabulary for Chinese anime and manga fans
Alex C-J•
Chinese anime and manga fandom has developed its own rich lexicon, blending borrowed Japanese terms with clever localisations and entirely homegrown slang. Whether you're watching dòngmàn (动漫) or reading mànhuà (漫画), these terms will help you navigate forums, understand subtitles, and chat with fellow fans.
Core Concepts and Media Types
动漫 (dòngmàn)
/tʊŋ män/
“Anime”
The Chinese abbreviation of 动画 (animation) + 漫画 (comics), used broadly for anime and related media. Unlike Japanese usage, it often includes both animated and comic media.
国创 (guóchuàng)
/kwɔ tʂʰwɑŋ/
“Domestic creation”
Chinese-original anime and manga, as opposed to Japanese imports. The term has gained prideful connotations with the rise of works like Mo Dao Zu Shi and The King's Avatar
番剧 (fānjù)
/fän tɕy/
“Series”
Derived from the Japanese 番組 (bangumi), meaning programme or series. Used for both anime seasons and individual episodes.
Character Types and Tropes
中二病 (zhōng'èrbìng)
/ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ piŋ⁵¹/
“Middle school second year syndrome”
Directly borrowed from Japanese chūnibyō, describing characters (or real people) with delusions of grandeur or special powers - the cringey phase we all went through at 14.
傲娇 (àojiāo)
/ɑʊ tɕjɑʊ/
“Tsundere”
The Chinese localisation of tsundere - characters who mask affection with hostility. Literally means 'proud + delicate'.
病娇 (bìngjiāo)
/piŋ tɕjɑʊ/
“Yandere”
The dangerous counterpart to 傲娇 - characters whose love becomes violently obsessive. Combines 'sick' with the same 'delicate' character as 傲娇.
Fandom Culture and Internet Slang
二次元 (èrcìyuán)
/ˀɤɻ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sʰz̩⁵¹ ɥɛn³⁵/
“Two-dimensional world”
The anime/manga/games fandom space as opposed to the real world (三次元). Originally from Japanese nijigen, now deeply embedded in Chinese otaku culture.
腐女 (fǔnǚ)
/fu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ny²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/
“Fujoshi”
Female fans of boys' love content. The term literally means 'rotten girl', mirroring the Japanese fujoshi.
空耳 (kōng'ěr)
/kʰʊŋ⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/
“Misheard lyrics”
From Japanese soramimi, referring to humorous transcriptions of Japanese lyrics into Chinese-sounding phrases. A whole subculture exists around creating these.
Platform and Consumption Terms
弹幕 (dànmù)
/tän mu/
“Bullet comments”
The scrolling viewer comments overlaid on videos, particularly massive on Chinese platforms like Bilibili. Literally 'bullet screen', as the comments fly across like bullets.
追番 (zhuīfān)
/ʈ͡ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ fän⁵⁵/
“To follow series”
The act of keeping up with anime releases as they come out weekly. The 追 character implies active pursuit or chasing after something.
补番 (bǔfān)
/pu fän/
“To catch up on series”
The satisfying process of marathoning a completed series. 补 means to supplement or make up for something missed.
Pro tip: Many Chinese streaming platforms like Bilibili and iQiyi have extensive anime libraries with official subtitles - perfect for learning Chinese through anime once you've got these terms down!
Genre and Content Warnings
热血 (rèxuè)
/ʐɤ ɕɥɛ/
“Hot-blooded”
The quintessential shounen genre full of fighting spirit and dramatic power-ups. Literally means 'hot blood', conveying intense passion and energy.
致郁 (zhìyù)
/ʈʂʐ̩ y/
“Depression-inducing”
The opposite of 'healing' anime - stories designed to emotionally devastate you. Plays on the similar pronunciation to 治愈 (healing) but with 郁 meaning melancholy.
泡面番 (pàomiànfān)
/pʰɑʊ mjɛn fän/
“Instant noodle series”
Short 3-5 minute episodes you can watch while your instant noodles cook. The anime equivalent of a snack rather than a full meal.
With these terms in your vocabulary, you'll be better equipped to navigate Chinese anime communities, understand subtleties in translations, and maybe even impress native-speaking fans. The crossover between Japanese otaku culture and Chinese internet slang creates a fascinating linguistic ecosystem that's constantly evolving - much like the dynamic between Mandarin and Hokkien in other contexts.
Remember: Many of these terms originated in Japanese but have taken on new nuances in Chinese usage. When in doubt, observe how native speakers use them in context on platforms like Bilibili or Weibo.
