Anime & manga in Chinese 动漫
dòngmàn
Anime and manga in Chinese is 动漫 (dòng màn).
Also searched for as: Japanese anime, manga, cartoons, otaku culture, donghua.
Anime, manga and all things 二次元. 15 essential anime & manga words in Mandarin Chinese, with pinyin and English. Open it in the app to hear each word, tick off the ones you know and turn them into flashcards.
The everyday word for anime and manga in Chinese is 动漫 (dòng màn), a blend of 动画 (dòng huà, animation) and 漫画 (màn huà, comics). Fans also talk about the 二次元 (èr cì yuán), literally the 'two-dimensional world', meaning anime culture as a whole. These words will help you chat about what you're watching, follow fan comments online and find your way round an anime convention in China.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 动漫 | dòng màn | anime and manga |
| 日漫 | rì màn | Japanese anime and manga |
| 国漫 | guó màn | Chinese animation and comics |
| 番剧 | fān jù | anime series |
| 追番 | zhuī fān | to follow an anime as it airs |
| 新番 | xīn fān | new anime (this season) |
| 二次元 | èr cì yuán | the 2D world; anime fandom |
| 漫画 | màn huà | manga; comics |
| 动画 | dòng huà | animation; anime |
| 声优 | shēng yōu | voice actor (anime) |
| 弹幕 | dàn mù | bullet comments (scrolling on screen) |
| 漫展 | màn zhǎn | anime convention |
| 手办 | shǒu bàn | figure (collectible) |
| 中二 | zhōng èr | cringey teenage delusions (chūnibyō) |
| 片头曲 | piàn tóu qǔ | opening theme |
Usage tips
- Chinese fans call an anime series a 番 (fān) or 番剧 (fān jù), so 追番 (zhuī fān) is following a show as new episodes air and 新番 (xīn fān) is the new season's line-up.
- Use 日漫 (rì màn) for Japanese works and 国漫 (guó màn) for Chinese ones; 动画 (dòng huà) on its own can mean any animation, including children's cartoons.
- On sites with 弹幕 (dàn mù), viewers' comments scroll across the screen in real time, and people talk about watching with them switched on, 开着弹幕 (kāi zhe dàn mù), or off.
Common mistakes
- Calling anime 卡通 (kǎ tōng, cartoon) sounds childish to fans → say 动漫 (dòng màn) or 动画 (dòng huà) instead.
- Saying 声音演员 for 'voice actor' is a literal translation → anime fans say 声优 (shēng yōu), while 配音演员 (pèi yīn yǎn yuán) is the general term for dubbing actors.
Mini dialogue
- A你最近在追什么番？Nǐ zuì jìn zài zhuī shén me fān?What anime are you following at the moment?
- B我在追一部新番，片头曲特别好听。Wǒ zài zhuī yī bù xīn fān, piàn tóu qǔ tè bié hǎo tīng.I'm following a new one, the opening theme is really good.
- A是日漫还是国漫？Shì rì màn hái shì guó màn?Is it Japanese or Chinese?
- B国漫，是根据漫画改编的。Guó màn, shì gēn jù màn huà gǎi biān de.Chinese, it's adapted from a comic.
- A周末的漫展你去吗？Zhōu mò de màn zhǎn nǐ qù ma?Are you going to the anime convention this weekend?
- B去啊，我还想买几个手办。Qù a, wǒ hái xiǎng mǎi jǐ gè shǒu bàn.Yes, and I want to buy a few figures too.
Example sentences
- 我从小就喜欢动漫。I've loved anime and manga since I was a kid.
- 他只看日漫，不看国漫。He only watches Japanese anime, not Chinese ones.
- 这几年国漫进步很大。Chinese animation has come a long way in recent years.
- 这个季度有什么好看的番剧？What good anime are there this season?
- 我每周都在追番。I follow anime every week as it comes out.
- 七月新番你看了几部？How many of the July new anime have you watched?
- 他是个二次元宅男。He's an anime otaku.
- 这部漫画已经出了五十卷。This manga is already up to fifty volumes.
- 这部动画是根据漫画改编的。This anime is adapted from a manga.
- 这个角色的声优好厉害。This character's voice actor is amazing.
- 开着弹幕看番更好玩。Watching anime with bullet comments on is more fun.
- 周末我要去漫展。I'm going to an anime convention this weekend.
- 他的房间里全是手办。His room is full of figures.
- 他说话有点中二。The way he talks is a bit chūnibyō.
- 这部番的片头曲特别好听。This anime's opening theme is really good.
Practise speaking
Ready to use these words? The Anime & manga speaking island has 8 everyday questions about anime & manga to prepare your own answers to.