Manga-comics are divided into many different types, or genres. These are:
Doujinshi[]
This type of manga translates as "fan-work" (literally "same-person-writing") Doujinshi is unofficial manga that is made and produced by fans of an original series, or a self-published manga.
Gekiga[]
Gekiga means "dramatic pictures". This type of manga is more experimental or literary.
Hentai[]
This manga is sexually hardcore manga. Hentai is Japanese for "perverted" or "perversion". (adult content)
Josei[]
Josei is manga aimed at adult women. (adult content). It is derived from the English "Lady Comic"
Seinen[]
Seinen (literally "adult") is the exact same thing as Josei except for males. (adult content)
Shōujo (少女)[]
Shōujo (literally "young girl"), Not Shōjo(処女), shojo means virgin、 is manga aimed at young females up to the age 18. These series tend to focus on romance and relationships from a young female's point of view.
Shōnen[]
This is almost the same as shojo except it is mostly action, sports or romance for males up to age 18. It translates literally as "boy".
Kodomo[]
This kind of manga is for little children that are just learning to read. Kodomo translates literally as "child".
Shōujo-ai / Yuri[]
This manga is based on female/female romantic relationships. Shōuo-ai translates literally as "Girl-love", though it should be noted that in Japan itself, this term has a different meaning, referring to pedophilia. Yuri translates literally as "Lily". In Japan, the term GL (Girl Love) is sometimes used.
Shōnen-ai / Yaoi[]
This manga is the same as Shōjo-ai / Yuri except it's boy/boy relationships. Shōnen-ai translates as "Boy-love" (same disclaimer as for shōjo-ai). Yaoi is an acronym of yama nashi, ochi nashi, imi nashi (no climax, no punch-line, no meaning). BL (Boy Love) is sometimes used in Japan for this type e.g Matt Friend and Dan Vought.