BL

びーえる

noun

boys' love; male-male romance genre

informalcolloquialmedia

1. boys' love; male-male romance genre

A genre of fiction, primarily manga and novels, featuring romantic or sexual relationships between male characters. Primarily created by and for women.

BL漫画(まんが)を読(よ)んでいる。

I'm reading a BL manga.

この本屋(ほんや)にはBLコーナーがある。

This bookstore has a BL section.

BL作品(さくひん)がドラマ化(か)されることが増(ふ)えた。

More BL works are being adapted into dramas.

Etymology

Abbreviation of English 'Boys' Love'. A Japanese-coined term for male-male romance fiction.

Usage

A major genre in Japanese manga, novels, and increasingly in live-action dramas. The audience is primarily women. Not synonymous with gay literature written by or for gay men.

Terminology

受(う)け - the 'bottom' or receiving partner
攻(せ)め - the 'top' or pursuing partner
腐女子(ふじょし) - female BL fan

Related words

GL - girls' love (female-female romance)
やおい - older term for BL

Related Words

Related: GL (girls' love)

general

Added 2026.1.21 10:00 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

07500/07752_biieru