Manko and Chinko - Social Taboos of Japan

There are two words that are practically taboo to say in public in Japan: マンコ (manko) and チンコ (chinko). Never, under any circumstances, say these two words in a social situation. In English, they mean "pussy" and "dick". Saying the names of genitals out loud, especially the female one, is one of the most serious blunders you can make in public. A Japanese person will usually refer to the lower regions as "あそこ" (asoko), which means "there" and works as a euphemism everyone understands.

This taboo is so strong that a Japanese artist was arrested on obscenity charges for distributing design files to make 3D printed models of her vulva.

The artist is Megumi Igarashi, who works under the name Rokudenashiko. In 2014, she shared the 3D scan data of her own body with the supporters of her crowdfunding campaign and was arrested that same year. In 2016, a court acquitted her over the decorated kayak she had built from the scan, but found her guilty of distributing the data and fined her ¥400,000, roughly US$3,600 at the time. She appealed, and the case ended in 2017.

Even the word itself is censored: Japanese media often write it as ま○こ. Learners should take note, because many Japanese women's names end in "ko", as our list of female Japanese names shows. Ask "Did you see manko?" or "Did you see chinko?" in the wrong context and the conversation will not end well.

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The Meaning of Manko in Japanese

"Manko" (まんこ) is a Japanese word considered a vulgar term for female genitalia. It is slang, and slang can be offensive or inappropriate in many situations. In respectful or formal conversations, it is better to use medical or more neutral terms.

Some related words are:

1. 女性器 (joseiki) - Female organ, a more neutral and polite term.
2. 女性の生殖器 (josei no seishokuki) - Female genitalia, a medical and formal expression.
3. おまんこ (omanko) - A softer version of "manko" because of the honorific prefix "o" (お), though it can still be considered vulgar in some contexts.
4. 肉襞 (nikuhida) - Literally "folds of flesh", vulgar slang.
5. 肉壷 (nikutsubo) - Literally "meat pot", another vulgar slang term.

The Meaning of Chinko in Japanese

"Chinko" (ちんこ) is a colloquial Japanese word used to refer to the male genital organ. It is slang and can be considered rude, offensive, or inappropriate in many contexts.

The exact origin of the word is uncertain. It is related to ちんちん (chinchin), and the first records date to the late 1700s; like several words for the body, it began as a euphemism.

The more neutral options are:

1. 男性の生殖器 (dansei no seishokuki) - Male genitalia, a medical and formal expression.
2. 陰茎 (inkei) - Penis, a medical and neutral term.
3. ちんちん (chinchin) - Colloquial slang, less vulgar than "chinko", but still considered inappropriate in some contexts.
4. おちんちん (ochinchin) - A softer version of "chinchin" with the honorific prefix "o" (お). It is still slang and can be inappropriate in certain situations.

Vulgarity: a taboo and a paradox

The irony is that Japan is a socially conservative country with a huge adult industry. Adult videos, adult magazines, and hentai manga and games are all easy to find. In 2019, the three largest convenience store chains decided to stop selling adult magazines by the end of August, ahead of the Rugby World Cup and the Tokyo Olympics. At 7-Eleven, those magazines were less than one percent of sales.

So obscene words remain off limits in public, while the consumption of adult material is common among both the young and the old. Not to mention the recurring incest themes in Japanese adult manga and video.

Vulgarity is therefore both a taboo and, so to speak, a "consumer good". Despite these contradictory attitudes, saying manko or chinko in a social situation still draws disapproval. Everyday Japanese has little of the casual profanity common in English; these two words stand out precisely because they stay out of polite conversation. If you are learning the language, the safe rule is simple: asoko in casual conversation, and joseiki or dansei no seishokuki when a neutral term is needed.