2.NounA genre, especially of anime and manga, featuring playful, tongue-in-cheek usage of sexualized scenes and situations such as double entendre or flirtation, while remaining non-pornographic. Often used to differentiate from hentai which features overt sexual themes.
"The manga fan was disturbingly proud of his extensive ecchi collection."
3.NounA situation within a story, especially anime and manga, which ventures into the ecchi genre.
"There was a moment of ecchi for comic relief in the otherwise serious story."