Explore all the must-know terms and tropes of the Yaoi world!
If we missed any, feel free to add your own and help expand the Yaoi universe together!

While not exclusive to BL, this term refers to manga or anime targeted at adult men, some of which can include BL themes or relationships.

Common themes or conventions in BL, such as "enemies to lovers," "forbidden love," or "hurt/comfort," which fans often seek out or avoid.

Literally "boy's love," a term used to describe BL content that focuses more on romance and emotional connections rather than explicit sexual content.

In the Omegaverse, the class typically associated with submissiveness and the ability to bear children, regardless of gender.

A fan's favorite pairing or couple, considered by them to be the ultimate or ideal relationship.

Originally a term used in Western fandoms to describe fan-created romantic or sexual relationships between male characters (e.g., "Kirk/Spock" slash), now used broadly in BL/yaoi contexts.

In the Omegaverse, a neutral class that doesn't possess the dominant traits of Alphas or the reproductive traits of Omegas.

Elements within a non-BL work that seem designed to appeal to fujoshi/fudanshi by suggesting potential BL pairings or subtext.

Explicit sexual content in BL or yaoi works, often focusing on physical relationships between the characters.

Short for "non-consensual," used to describe BL or yaoi content that involves forced or non-consensual sexual encounters, often controversial.

A genre of fanfiction or manga that focuses on intense emotional drama, often involving tragic or complicated relationships in BL.

In the Omegaverse, the dominant class, often possessing heightened physical and social power.

A storytelling style where the romantic or sexual relationship between characters develops gradually, often used in BL to build tension.

Literally "rotten girl," it refers to a female fan of BL or yaoi content.

A genre that combines BL with elements of horror or extreme violence, often focusing on grotesque or disturbing themes.

A genre of media that focuses on romantic and/or sexual relationships between male characters, often created by women for a female audience.

Literally "beast ears," this term refers to characters with animal features (like ears or tails), sometimes found in BL works where one character may have these traits.

A subgenre of BL that features an alternate universe where characters are divided into hierarchical classes (Alpha, Beta, Omega) with unique biological roles, often involving themes of dominance and reproduction.

Personal interpretations or beliefs held by fans about characters or relationships that aren't explicitly confirmed in the official story.

Shotacon (ショタコン): A genre within BL that focuses on relationships involving young boys, often controversial due to the age of the characters.