The word 漫画 is formed by combining two characters: 漫 (màn), meaning "free", "unrestrained", or "random", and 画 (huà), meaning "drawing" or "picture". The compound literally translates to "unrestrained drawings" or "random sketches", conceptually capturing the essence of the art form, images that are free-flowing, expressive, often humorous or satirical, and not bound by formal artistic conventions, which perfectly defines what we understand as "comics" or "cartoons".