light novel

English

Etymology

Calque of Japanese ライトノベル (raito noberu, ultimately from English light +‎ novel).

Noun

light novel (plural light novels)

1. A Japanese novel primarily targeting young adults, typically illustrated (in an anime/manga style) and containing not more than 50,000 words.

Synonyms

• LN (abbreviation)

Coordinate terms

• novel
• novella
• novelette

Derived terms

• LN (abbreviation)

Translations

Japanese type of novel

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 輕小說／轻小说 (zh) (qīngxiǎoshuō)

• Japanese: ライトノベル (ja) (raito noberu)
• Korean: 라이트 노벨 (raiteu nobel)
• Spanish: novela ligera f
• Swedish: lättroman c