BL

びーえる
noun
boys' love; male-male romance genre
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:

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

Related Words

Related: GL (girls' love)
general
Added 2026.1.21 10:00 · Revised 2026.1.24 23:24
07500/07752_biieru