Yaoi vs. BL: What’s the Difference?

Anime, comics, and fanfiction definitely overlap with the words Yaoi and BL (Boys’ Love). Although some people use these terms interchangeably, others believe there is a distinction between them. So, is there really a difference? Do they overlap?

The short answer is BL is the broader category, while Yaoi is a specific subgenre within it. But the story goes beyond that. We break it down in such a way that everyone, whether a seasoned fan or a complete newbie, would understand the context and enjoy all genre stories on SmutFinder.

What Does Yaoi vs BL Even Mean?

Tone, content, and other forms of storytelling tend to differ between Yaoi vs BL, but their emphasis on male characters is equal.

Boys’ Love (BL)

The term Boys’ Love covers a broader spectrum. Therefore, it is shorted to BL. This term is generally used to refer to Japanese manga, anime, and novels that focus primarily on romance between male characters. BL stories can also depict powerful sadness due to problems or heartbreaks in a romantic relationship or simply be lighthearted in a school setting with first crushes and kisses.

Instead of describing BL as short stories, think of it as an umbrella that contains split parts of different moods and genres.

Yaoi

Yaoi is a specific type of BL that focuses more on physical and sexual relations than on emotions and dynamic storytelling. The term derives from the phrase “Yama nashi, Ochi nashi, Imi nashi,” which, literally translated, means “no climax, no resolution, no meaning.” In essence, it describes the way early Yaoi stories were romantic fantasies with little to no detailed plots.

Steamy scenes are more common in Yaoi, and they focus on desire rather than a slow-burn romance.

Where Did These Terms Come From?

The Birth of BL

BL, in its entirety, is a Japanese creation from the 1970s with roots in feminine shōjo manga, which is romance manga for girls. Women began writing male-male love stories to capture and portray romance and emotions without being bound to heterosexuality.

Kaze to Ki no Uta, or The Poem of the Wind and the Trees, is a visual novel that Keiko Takemiya wrote in 1976. It defied the standards of the time by showing a same-sex romance where the characters were deeply emotional and faced social and tragic obstacles, which laid the groundwork for modern BL.

The Yaoi Boom

Originally, yaoi was a fan term created in the 1980s. It was used to describe certain fan fiction or doujinshi (fan-made manga) that focused primarily on the desires of romantic relationships rather than the plot itself. The term’s scope drifted from fan work and was bound to stories published featuring hot, emotionally charged male characters in some exaggerated love affair.

Both the terms “BL” and “Yaoi” are used today, but it is important to mention that both approaches differ regarding the audience and how the story is told.

Yaoi vs BL: How Are They Different?

Category	BL (Boys' Love)	Yaoi
Story Focus	Romance, emotions, character growth	Passion, attraction, fantasy-driven relationships
Target Audience	Primarily women, but also LGBTQ+ readers	Mostly women, especially niche fans of steamy romance
Character Development	Complex backstories, slow-burn romance	Often lacks deep character arcs, focuses on attraction
Sexual Content	Varies—some are innocent, some mature	Usually explicit or at least heavily implied
Popular Examples	Given, Sasaki to Miyano, Doukyuusei	Finder Series, Yarichin Bitch Club, Harada’s works

Think of BL as a romance novel and Yaoi as a passion-filled fantasy.

What Do Fans Think About Yaoi vs BL?

Opinions vary even among the participants of that fandom. Some fans think “Yaoi” should be used as a blanket term, while others believe it is more nuanced and should not be used to describe other subgenres.

Aya, 24 (BL fan):

"I specifically like BL because it provides superb love stories. The romance has so much authenticity to it, and even the drama makes sense.”

Rin, 21 (Yaoi fan):

“Yaoi, for me, is pure ecstasy. It’s completely about fantasies; there’s no need to think of a well-thought-out plot. Sometimes, we just need to escape from everything.”

Leo, 26 (LGBTQ+ manga reader):

“BL should be sensitive to queer identities. There's some BL where the LGBTQ+ themes are done very well. However, there are those wanting to escape in fantasy.”

The debate can arise when some say BL is defined through deep emotional love while Yaoi is defined through passionate affection. Those extremes are defined as something that does not have a base on which to stand. It is simply a matter of perspective.

Common Misconceptions

1. Yaoi vs BL are the same thing.

Not really. BL is used to refer to romance in some captioning. It is a wider genre than yaoi. Yaoi usually pertains to a relationship with deep attraction, using fantasy as the driving force.

1. Yaoi is just fanfiction.

While Yaoi began as a fan term, many Yaoi stories have been published professionally. It undoubtedly has a strong connection to fandom content, like in Japan, but it is not strictly Fanfiction.

1. BL is just for women.

Although BL was primarily relegated to a female-only audience, these days, more and more readers of all genders are getting into it, including a variety of LGBTQ+ people. Some stories focus on LGBTQ+ themes and realism, and others focus on romantic fantasy as a genre.

How Has Yaoi vs. BL Changed Over Time?

BL Is Going Mainstream

Given the widespread availability of Webtoons, light novels, and even overseas licensing, BL has recently become more generally acceptable. Such as:

• Given (anime & manga) - Romance of Two Musicians in Love with each other
• Sasaki to Miyano - A novel love story of high school kids.
• Heaven Official’s Blessing - A novel that was adapted into anime and BL.

These stories have captured the attention of people who haven’t read BL in the past.

Yaoi Remains a Passionate Niche

Yaoi still has a strong and dedicated fandom, particularly for the stories that go beyond the limits of what’s permissible. Fanbase for notorious works like Finder Series or Yarichin Bitch Club are full of readers who seek something astonishingly mature.

Which One Should You Read?

If you’re having trouble figuring out how to go about selecting stories, allow us to help.

• Is gripping plot and drama embedded within romance your cup of tea? → Carefully select BL.
• Do you enjoy well-crafted fantasies with action and drama? → A try with Yaoi is worth it.
• Do you love each genre equally? → There is hardly anything stopping you from indulging in both Yaoi vs BL stories.

Conclusion

The greatest thing about stories is that everybody has an opinion. What matters more is how each person interprets a story. There is no restriction on Yaoi vs. BL because they cover all moods and emotions.