If you searched “raw raw”, you probably want one of two things. Either you’re hunting for the untranslated chapter of a series you follow, or you keep seeing the word “raw” in comment sections and want to know what it means. Both are fair questions, and this guide covers both.
Short version: a raw is the original, untranslated release of a comic. For manhwa that means Korean text. For manga it means Japanese. Nothing has been translated, cleaned or lettered for English readers yet.
What Does “Raw Raw” Mean?
Fans use “raw” for any chapter in its original language. A Korean webtoon chapter on its home platform is a raw. So is a scan of a Japanese manga page that hasn’t been through a translation team.
The word also has a history. Scanlation groups used it for the starting material they would translate, clean and typeset. Some fans dislike that, since it treats the original as nothing more than raw material, when it’s a finished product made for readers in its home country. That’s a fair point, and it’s one reason I’d rather say “original-language release” in polite company.
People type “raw raw” because search habits are messy. It usually means “raw manhwa”, “raw manga” or “raw chapters”, with the word doubled out of habit.
Why Readers Look for Raws
There are a few honest reasons, and they aren’t all about impatience.
- Speed: Original chapters appear before any English release does.
- Language learning: Comics are a good way to practise Korean or Japanese because the pictures carry the context.
- Art and tone: Some readers want to see the lettering and sound effects exactly as the creator drew them.
- Missing translations: Plenty of series never get an English version at all.
The catch is obvious. If you can’t read Korean, a raw chapter is a lot of pretty panels and very little story.
Raw vs Fan Translation vs Official Release
The three versions get mixed up constantly, so here is how they differ.
| Version | Language | Who makes it | Typical quality | Best for |
| Raw | Original (Korean, Japanese) | The creator or original publisher | Perfect art, no translation | Readers of that language, learners |
| Fan translation | Translated by volunteers | Fan groups | Varies from excellent to rough | Series with no official release |
| Official translation | Licensed and translated | Publisher or platform | Consistent, edited | Most casual readers |
Notice that the raw has the best image quality of the three. Fan versions get re-edited, and compression and cleaning can cost detail. That’s a real advantage of reading originals.
Raw Manhwa Is Its Own Thing
Manhwa behaves differently from manga. Korean series are mostly full colour and built for vertical scrolling on a phone, so a raw chapter is one long strip rather than a stack of pages. If you’re new to the format, the manhwa and webtoon beginner guide explains how it differs from Japanese comics and which genres to try first.
Reincarnation stories, dungeon fantasy and royal romance dominate the charts. A lot of the dialogue in those genres leans on honorifics and slang, which is exactly where raw readers struggle without a dictionary and where translators earn their money.
Where to Find Raws Without the Risks
The safest raws are the ones on the platforms that publish them first. For Korean series, that means the original Korean webtoon services, such as Naver Webtoon and KakaoPage. Chapters there are the real originals, free or paid depending on the series, and the creator gets paid.
If your goal is reading in English for free, you have good legal options too. Our guide to reading manhwa online for free walks through official platforms, free-chapter systems and the safety habits worth keeping. Once you’ve exhausted those, the best manhwa sites roundup shows where else to look.
Be wary of unofficial “raw” sites. I won’t pretend every one is dangerous, but the pattern is familiar: stacked pop-ups, forced downloads, and account walls before you’ve seen a single page. Chapters taken without permission also hurt the people making the series.
A Quick Safety Checklist for Raw Readers
- Prefer the original publisher’s own site or app.
- Never install an APK or “reader” file a comic site pushes at you.
- Skip any site that asks for payment details just to view free chapters.
- Use an ad blocker, but don’t treat it as a substitute for judgement.
- If the page keeps redirecting, close it. Nothing there is worth the risk.
Where Manytoon Fits In
Manytoon is a discovery and guide site. It points you toward places to read rather than hosting licensed comics itself. If you’re new here, what Manytoon is and where to start is the quickest orientation. The Manytoon comics experience guide covers the webtoon side in more depth, and similar sites to Manytoon is handy when you want alternatives. For anime and pop culture beyond comics, the Entertainment category is the place to browse.
Start Here
| If you want to… | Go to |
| Learn the basics of manhwa and webtoons | Manhwa and webtoon guide |
| Read free without breaking copyright | Manhwa online free |
| Compare reading platforms | Best manhwa sites |
| Understand the site | What is Manytoon |
| Find alternatives | Manytoon and 25 similar sites |
| Contact the team | Contact Us |
For general background, see the Wikipedia overview of manhwa.
Raw Raw FAQs
What does “raw” mean in manhwa and manga?
It means the chapter is in its original language, untranslated. A raw Korean manhwa chapter has Korean text, and a raw manga chapter has Japanese text.
Is reading raw manhwa legal?
It depends on the source. Reading originals on the publisher’s official platform is fine. Sites that host chapters without permission are a legal grey area at best and a security risk at worst.
Why are raws available before English chapters?
The original release comes first. Translation, cleaning and lettering take time, so English versions follow later, officially or through fans.
Can I learn Korean from raw manhwa?
Yes, many learners do. Start with slice-of-life or romance series, where the vocabulary is everyday, and keep a dictionary app open.
Does Manytoon host raw chapters?
No. Manytoon is a guide and discovery site that links to places to read and explains how to do it safely.
Is manhwa the same as manga?
No. Manhwa is Korean, usually full colour and built for scrolling. Manga is Japanese and traditionally black and white.
Conclusion
“Raw raw” sounds like jargon, but the idea is simple: original-language chapters, before anyone translates them. They’re great for speed, for art quality and for learning a language. They’re a poor fit if you can’t read the language, and the shady sites that advertise them can cost you more than a missed chapter.
My advice is to start with official platforms, use the guides above when you want free English reading, and treat any site that demands downloads as a closed tab. If you have questions or want to contribute, visit the About page or get in touch.
