noun
Uncommon
manga
MANG-guh
Manga (noun) means a comic or graphic novel originating in Japan. Example: “She spends her allowance on manga from the import bookstore.”
noun
1
A comic or graphic novel originating in Japan.
"She spends her allowance on manga from the import bookstore."
"The library added a whole shelf of manga last year."
"My brother reads manga on the train, flipping the pages from right to left."
2
The distinctive art style associated with Japanese comics, now also used by artists outside Japan.
"His webcomic is drawn in a manga style, right down to the big eyes."
How to use manga
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishJapanese comic books, or comics anywhere drawn in that same visual style.
Common mistake
Manga refers to the comics themselves; anime is the animated adaptations. They are related but not interchangeable.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
read manga
manga series
manga artist
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Word forms
- Plural
- mangas
Fill the gap
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She spends her allowance on _____ from the import bookstore.
Etymology
Borrowed from Japanese manga, itself from Chinese characters meaning roughly "free, unrestrained" plus "drawing." The word took off after an 1814 book by the artist Hokusai used it as a title.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for manga
See all rhymes for manga →Frequently asked questions
What does “manga” mean?
The word “manga” means a comic or graphic novel originating in Japan. In plain terms, japanese comic books, or comics anywhere drawn in that same visual style.
How do you pronounce “manga”?
“Manga” is pronounced MANG-guh (/ˈmɑŋɡə/ in IPA).
How do you use “manga” in a sentence?
Here is “manga” used in a sentence: “She spends her allowance on manga from the import bookstore.”
What part of speech is “manga”?
“Manga” is a noun.
Where does the word “manga” come from?
The word “manga” dates back to around 1814 and comes from Chinese. Borrowed from Japanese manga, itself from Chinese characters meaning roughly "free, unrestrained" plus "drawing." The word took off after an 1814 book by the artist Hokusai used it as a title.
Is “manga” a common word?
“Manga” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “manga” have?
“Manga” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a comic or graphic novel originating in Japan.
What is the difference between manga and anime?
Manga refers to comics or graphic novels originating in Japan, which are printed and read on the page. Anime refers to Japanese animation, so the key difference is that manga is drawn comics while anime is moving pictures.
What is the difference between manga and a Western comic book?
Both are illustrated stories, but manga originates in Japan and is traditionally printed in black and white and read from right to left. Western comic books are more often in colour and read from left to right.
Is manga read left to right or right to left?
Traditional Japanese manga is read from right to left, both across the page and through the panels. Editions translated for Western readers are sometimes flipped to read left to right, though many now keep the original direction.
Is the plural of manga 'manga' or 'mangas'?
In English, manga is usually treated as uncountable, so "manga" serves as both singular and plural, as in "she reads a lot of manga." The form "mangas" is occasionally used but is far less common.
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