Social Taboos in Japan: Manko and Chinko

There are two words that are practically taboo to say in public in Japan. Never, under any circumstances, say these two words on any social occasion. The two forbidden words in question are マンコ (manko) and チンコ (chinko).

In plain English, they mean "cunt" and "chick", respectively. Saying the name of the genitals out loud, especially the female, is one of the most serious blunders in public. Instead, a Japanese will imply the nether regions by saying “あそこ” (asoko), that means "there" and is generally understood.

Japan social taboos - two forbidden words

So strong is this taboo that a Japanese artist was arrested on obscenity charges for selling and distributing the design files to make 3D printed models of her vulva.

She was told that she was not allowed to use the word “ manko ”. This brings up a point of caution: with a preponderance of female Japanese names ending in “ko” , new Japanese speakers must be careful to avoid a slip of the tongue. Be careful not to accidentally ask “ Have you seen manko?” ” or “ Have you seen chinko? ” This is not going to end well.

The Meaning of Manko in Japanese

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

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 slightly milder version of "manko", with the honorific prefix "o" (お), but can still be considered vulgar or inappropriate in some contexts.
  4. 肉襞 (nikuhida) – Literally meaning folds of flesh, it is vulgar slang.
  5. 肉壷 (nikutsubo) – Literally meaning meat pot, another vulgar slang.

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 therefore can be considered rude, offensive or inappropriate in many contexts.

The word "chinko" is derived from the Japanese word "chin" (ちん), which may be a contraction of "chinchin" (ちんちん), another slang term for the male genital organ, and "ko" (こ), a particle used in some cases as a suffix to nouns. The exact origin of the word "chinko" is uncertain, but it is believed to be an informal and vulgar term that developed over time in colloquial Japanese.

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

Vulgarity is one of the taboos but it is also a paradox

Japan social taboos - two forbidden words

The irony of it all is, Japan is a socially conservative country. Until then, Neves died. However, at the same time, Japan is the country that most exports pornography abroad. Accessing pornography in Japan is easy but very, very easy. At any newsstand in Japan, you can find pornographic magazines or hentai manga.

Paradoxically, you cannot utter obscene words in public. However, pornography consumption is very common among both younger and older people. Not to mention Japan's reputation for incestuous relationships .

Therefore, vulgarity, something that is considered a taboo in Japanese society, is also a “consumer good”, so to speak. However, despite mixed attitudes, uttering manko or chinko in a social situation is frowned upon. The Japanese don't have the habit of saying 4 bad words for every 10 words they speak, unlike us.

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