Ecchi is a subgenre of Japanese manga, anime, computer games, etc., characterized by light, playful sexual themes and imagery. The word "ecchi" is derived from the Japanese pronunciation of the letter "H," which is the first letter of the word “hentai,” meaning “pervert”. However, ecchi is not as strong as hentai in terms of its connotation. Ecchi anime and manga contain sexual themes and innuendos, but they do not show sexual intercourse or genitalia. Instead, they often use different techniques to show sexy pictures. Ecchi themes are a type of fan service, and can be found in most comedy shōnen and seinen manga and harem anime. In western culture, the term "ecchi" has come to be used to refer to softcore or playful sexuality, as distinct from the word "hentai," which connotes perversion or fetishism.