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What Exactly is "Yaoi"?

10.12.2025 | xhentaidoll | Blog

What Exactly is "Yaoi"?

When I first encountered the term "Yaoi," I had no idea what it meant. It was precisely stumbling upon terms like this that inspired me to create illustrated explanations of anime terminology. Now, years later, I'm not only providing definitions but also including examples. Although progress has been slow, I believe a comprehensive glossary will eventually come together. As the title suggests, this article will delve into the specific meaning of "Yaoi."

Definition of Yaoi

Yaoi is a subgenre within the "Boys' Love" (BL) category, primarily depicting romantic relationships between men. The term originated in Japan in the late 1970s and later became widely used across various media such as anime, manga, novels, and games.

So, what makes Yaoi unique? Compared to other BL subgenres, Yaoi works focus more on the sensual aspects of the relationship, often directly depicting sexual acts between men—this is the key distinction between it and "Shounen-Ai." Furthermore, Yaoi works are overwhelmingly created by women for a female audience, which also differentiates it from "Bara," a genre primarily created for and by gay men. Both Shounen-Ai and Bara are subgenres under the broader BL umbrella, with BL itself being a general term encompassing various styles.

The Subtle Differences Between Yaoi and Other BL Subgenres

Although BL includes many subgenres, the two most commonly used for classification are Shounen-Ai and Yaoi. This distinction helps readers determine whether a work focuses more on emotional storytelling or sensual depiction. Of course, this doesn't mean that Yaoi completely omits emotional development, or that Shounen-Ai entirely avoids intimate scenes. Overall, these subgenres are grouped under the "Boys' Love" umbrella precisely because their elements are often intertwined, making the boundaries between them quite blurry.

Recommendations

If you'd like to learn about other anime terms, feel free to check out the [Anime Glossary]. Below are some representative works in the Yaoi genre across anime, manga, and webtoons:

Yaoi Anime

Yes ka No ka Hanbun ka
Hyperventilation

Yaoi Manga

Pink Heart Jam (Available on Manga Planet)
Underneath the Uniform: A Twisted First Love (Available on Manga Planet)

Yaoi Webtoons

Sign (Available on Lezhin)
The Good Teacher (Available on Lezhin)

Have you watched any Yaoi anime or read any Yaoi manga? What are your thoughts on this creative genre? Click on “Xhentaidoll”

const TAG = "spz-custom-popup"; const DISPLAY_TYPE = { POPUP: "PTT_POPUP" // 弹窗 }; const API = { LIST: `/api/storefront/promotion/placement/list`, // 获取弹窗列表 REPORT: `/api/storefront/promotion/placement/data/report` // 上报数据 }; const DISPLAY_DEVICE = { PC_AND_MOBILE: "PD_PC_MOBILE", // PC和移动端 PC: "PD_PC", // PC MOBILE: "PD_MOBILE" // 移动端 }; const REPORT_EVENT = { CLICK: "PE_CLICK", // 点击事件 IMPRESSION: "PE_IMPRESSION" // 曝光事件 }; class SpzCustomPopup extends SPZ.BaseElement { constructor(element) { super(element); this.popupList_ = []; // 弹窗数据 this.popupZIndex = 1050; // 弹窗层级 // 节流处理每5s内多次点击算一次点击上报 this.throttleReport = this.win.SPZCore.Types.throttle( this.win, (data) => { this.reportData(data) }, 5000 ) } static deferredMount() { return false; } buildCallback() { this.action_ = SPZServices.actionServiceForDoc(this.element); this.templates_ = SPZServices.templatesForDoc(this.element); this.xhr_ = SPZServices.xhrFor(this.win); this.setupAction_(); this.viewport_ = this.getViewport(); } mountCallback() { this.fetchData_(); } // 接口请求，获取数据 fetchData_() { const id = window.SHOPLAZZA.meta.page.template_type === 51 ? window.SHOPLAZZA.meta.page.resource_id : 0; return this.xhr_.fetchJson(API.LIST, { method: 'POST', body: { page_id: window.SHOPLAZZA.meta.page.template_type, placement_type: DISPLAY_TYPE.POPUP, discount_id: id } }).then((res) => { // 请求成功执行render this.doRender_(res.list); }).catch((err) => { console.error(err); }); } // 渲染dom doRender_(data) { this.popupList_ = data || []; if (this.popupList_.length > 0) { this.popupList_.forEach((item) => { item.config = JSON.parse(item.config); }) } return this.templates_ .findAndRenderTemplate(this.element, { list: this.popupList_ }) .then((el) => { const children = this.element.querySelector('*:not(template)'); children && SPZCore.Dom.removeElement(children); this.element.appendChild(el); }) .then(() => { // 遍历显示弹窗 this.popupList_.forEach((item) => { this.showPopup_(item); }); }) } showPopup_(popup) { // 展示弹窗符合展示条件的弹窗 const $popup = document.querySelector(`#popup-${popup.id}`); $popup && SPZ.whenApiDefined($popup).then((api)=> { const isPC = this.viewport_.getWidth() >= 960; const isMobile = this.viewport_.getWidth() < 960; const isMatchPCDevice = popup.device === DISPLAY_DEVICE.PC_AND_MOBILE || popup.device === DISPLAY_DEVICE.PC; const isMatchMobileDevice = popup.device == DISPLAY_DEVICE.PC_AND_MOBILE || popup.device === DISPLAY_DEVICE.MOBILE; if((isPC && isMatchPCDevice) || (isMobile && isMatchMobileDevice)) { // 根据推送时间延迟展示弹窗 setTimeout(() => { api.open(); }, popup.delay_seconds * 1000); } }) } // 上报数据 async reportData(data) { this.xhr_.fetchJson(API.REPORT, { method: "POST", body: { placement_id: data.placement_id, event: data.event } }); } setupAction_() { this.registerAction('handleTrack', async(invocation) => { // 如果是主题编辑器则不用处理 if(window.top !== window.self) { return; } const data = invocation.args; const event = data.event; // 点击上报节流处理 if(event === REPORT_EVENT.CLICK) { await this.throttleReport(data); } else { this.reportData(data); } }); } triggerEvent_(name, data) { const event = SPZUtils.Event.create(this.win, `${ TAG }.${ name }`, data || {}); this.action_.trigger(this.element, name, event); } isLayoutSupported(layout) { return layout == SPZCore.Layout.CONTAINER; } } SPZ.defineElement(TAG, SpzCustomPopup);

const TAG = "spz-custom-announcement"; const DISPLAY_TYPE = { ANNOUNCEMENT: "PTT_BANNER" // 公告栏 }; const API = { LIST: `/api/storefront/promotion/placement/list`, // 获取公告栏列表 REPORT: `/api/storefront/promotion/placement/data/report` // 上报数据 }; const DISPLAY_DEVICE = { PC_AND_MOBILE: "PD_PC_MOBILE", // PC和移动端 PC: "PD_PC", // PC MOBILE: "PD_MOBILE" // 移动端 }; const REPORT_EVENT = { CLICK: "PE_CLICK", // 点击事件 IMPRESSION: "PE_IMPRESSION" // 曝光事件 }; const POSITION = { TOP: "PP_TOP", // 顶部 BOTTOM: "PP_BOTTOM" // 底部 } const MODE = { FIXED: "PM_FIXED", // 固定 NORMAL: "PM_SCROLLING" // 滚动 } const THEME_NAME = window.SHOPLAZZA.theme.merchant_theme_name; class SpzCustomAnnouncement extends SPZ.BaseElement { constructor(element) { super(element); this.announcementList_ = []; // 公告栏数据 } static deferredMount() { return false; } buildCallback() { this.action_ = SPZServices.actionServiceForDoc(this.element); this.templates_ = SPZServices.templatesForDoc(this.element); this.xhr_ = SPZServices.xhrFor(this.win); this.setupAction_(); this.viewport_ = this.getViewport(); } mountCallback() { this.fetchData_(); this.createAnnouncementDom_(); this.listenCartChange_(); } fetchData_(type = '') { const id = window.SHOPLAZZA.meta.page.template_type === 51 ? window.SHOPLAZZA.meta.page.resource_id : 0; return this.xhr_.fetchJson(API.LIST, { method: 'POST', body: { page_id: window.SHOPLAZZA.meta.page.template_type, placement_type: DISPLAY_TYPE.ANNOUNCEMENT, discount_id: id } }).then((res) => { this.announcementList_ = res.list || []; if (this.announcementList_.length > 0) { this.announcementList_.forEach((item) => { item.config = JSON.parse(item.config); }); } if(type === 'cartChange') { this.announcementList_.forEach((item) => { this.updateText_(item); }); } else { this.doRender_(this.announcementList_); } }).catch((error) => { console.error(error); }) } doRender_(data) { return this.templates_ .findAndRenderTemplate(this.element, { list: this.announcementList_ }) .then((el) => { const children = this.element.querySelector('*:not(template)'); children && SPZCore.Dom.removeElement(children); this.element.appendChild(el); }) .then(() => { this.announcementList_.forEach((item) => { this.showAnnouncement_(item); }); }).then(() => { this.handleThemeCompatibility_(); }); } // 更新文案 updateText_(item) { const announcement = document.querySelector(`#announcement-${item.id}`); const announcementText = announcement.querySelectorAll('.announcement_text'); const textArr = item.config.text_discount.replace_texts; const textDom = textArr.map((text) => { return `${text}`; }).join(','); announcementText.forEach((text) => { text.innerHTML = textDom; }); } // 创建公告栏dom createAnnouncementDom_() { const isHero = /Hero/.test(THEME_NAME); const isEva = /Eva/.test(THEME_NAME); const headerEl = document.querySelector('[data-section-type="header"]'); const headerSticky = headerEl && SPZCore.Dom.computedStyle(this.win, headerEl).position === 'sticky'; // 创建滚动的底部公告栏 const announcementBottomContainer = document.createElement('div'); announcementBottomContainer.className = 'announcement__container_bottom bootstrap'; document.body.appendChild(announcementBottomContainer); // 创建固定的底部公告栏 const announcementBottomSticky = document.createElement('ljs-sticky'); announcementBottomSticky.className = 'announcement__container_bottom-sticky'; announcementBottomSticky.setAttribute('layout', 'container'); announcementBottomSticky.setAttribute('position', 'bottom'); announcementBottomSticky.style.position = 'fixed'; announcementBottomSticky.style.bottom = '0'; announcementBottomSticky.style.left = '0'; announcementBottomSticky.style.right = '0'; announcementBottomSticky.style.zIndex = '1030'; document.body.appendChild(announcementBottomSticky); const announcementTopContainer = document.createElement('div'); announcementTopContainer.classList.add('announcement__container_top'); if (isHero) { announcementTopContainer.classList.add('announcement__container_top_zIndex_1030'); } announcementTopContainer.classList.add('bootstrap'); document.body.insertBefore(announcementTopContainer, document.body.children[0]); const announcementTopFixedContainer = document.createElement('div'); announcementTopFixedContainer.classList.add('announcement__container_top-fixed'); if (isHero) { announcementTopFixedContainer.classList.add('announcement__container_top_zIndex_1030'); } announcementTopFixedContainer.classList.add('bootstrap'); const insertBeforeElement = headerSticky ? headerEl : document.body; insertBeforeElement.insertBefore(announcementTopFixedContainer, insertBeforeElement.children[0]); if (isEva) { const evaHeader = document.querySelector('header.header'); const isEvaMaskHeader = evaHeader && SPZCore.Dom.computedStyle(this.win, evaHeader).position === 'absolute'; let fixedBannerTopContainer = document.querySelector('.announcement__container_top-fixed'); if (isEvaMaskHeader) { if (fixedBannerTopContainer) { fixedBannerTopContainer.remove(); } const newBanner = document.createElement('div'); newBanner.className = 'announcement__container_top-fixed bootstrap'; document.body.insertBefore(newBanner, document.body.firstChild); fixedBannerTopContainer = newBanner; } else { if (!headerEl) return; const observer = new MutationObserver(() => { const isSticky = SPZCore.Dom.computedStyle(this.win, headerEl).position === 'sticky'; if (!isSticky) return; const isTopFixedAnnouncementInHeader = headerEl.querySelector('.announcement__container_top-fixed'); if (isTopFixedAnnouncementInHeader) return; const announcementTopFixedContainer = document.querySelector('.announcement__container_top-fixed'); if (announcementTopFixedContainer) { announcementTopFixedContainer.remove(); headerEl.insertBefore(announcementTopFixedContainer, headerEl.children[0]); observer.disconnect(); } }); observer.observe(headerEl, { attributes: true, attributeFilter: ['style', 'class'] }); } if (headerSticky && !isEvaMaskHeader && fixedBannerTopContainer) { fixedBannerTopContainer.style.position = 'relative'; fixedBannerTopContainer.style.zIndex = '29'; } } } // 展示公告栏 showAnnouncement_(item) { const announcement = document.querySelector(`#announcement-${item.id}`); const announcementBottomContainer = document.querySelector('.announcement__container_bottom'); const announcementBottomSticky = document.querySelector('.announcement__container_bottom-sticky'); const announcementTopContainer = document.querySelector('.announcement__container_top'); const announcementTopFixedContainer = document.querySelector('.announcement__container_top-fixed'); const isPC = this.viewport_.getWidth() >= 960; const isMobile = this.viewport_.getWidth() < 960; const isMatchPCDevice = item.device === DISPLAY_DEVICE.PC_AND_MOBILE || item.device === DISPLAY_DEVICE.PC; const isMatchMobileDevice = item.device == DISPLAY_DEVICE.PC_AND_MOBILE || item.device === DISPLAY_DEVICE.MOBILE; if((isPC && isMatchPCDevice) || (isMobile && isMatchMobileDevice)) { if (item.position === POSITION.BOTTOM) { if(item.mode === MODE.FIXED) { announcementBottomSticky && announcementBottomSticky.appendChild(announcement); } else { announcementBottomContainer && announcementBottomContainer.appendChild(announcement); } } else { if (item.mode === MODE.FIXED) { announcementTopFixedContainer && announcementTopFixedContainer.appendChild(announcement); } else { announcementTopContainer && announcementTopContainer.appendChild(announcement); } } this.reportData({ placement_id: item.id, event: REPORT_EVENT.IMPRESSION }); } } // 处理主题兼容 handleThemeCompatibility_() { try { const isBoost = /Boost/.test(THEME_NAME); const isHyde = /Hyde/.test(THEME_NAME); const isEva = /Eva/.test(THEME_NAME); const boostHeader = document.querySelector('.boost-header'); const fixedBannerTopContainer = document.querySelector('.announcement__container_top-fixed'); const notFixedBannerTopContainer = document.querySelector('.announcement__container_top'); const headerEl = document.querySelector('[data-section-type="header"]'); const headerSticky = headerEl && SPZCore.Dom.computedStyle(this.win, headerEl).position === 'sticky'; const header = document.querySelector('.header__fixed') || document.querySelector('.header__wrapper'); const headerFixed = header && SPZCore.Dom.computedStyle(this.win, header).position === 'fixed'; const handleScroll = SPZCore.Types.throttle(this.win, () => { if (isHyde) { if (header && headerSticky) { header.style.marginTop = `${fixedBannerTopContainer.offsetHeight}px`; } else { notFixedBannerTopContainer.style.marginTop = `${fixedBannerTopContainer.offsetHeight}px`; } } if (isEva) { const evaHeader = document.querySelector('header.header'); const isEvaMaskHeader = evaHeader && SPZCore.Dom.computedStyle(this.win, evaHeader).position === 'absolute'; if (!isEvaMaskHeader) return; if (evaHeader.classList.contains('header__fixed')) { evaHeader.style.marginTop = `${fixedBannerTopContainer.offsetHeight}px`; } else { notFixedBannerTopContainer.style.marginTop = `${fixedBannerTopContainer.offsetHeight}px`; } if(document.documentElement.scrollTop === 0) { evaHeader.style.marginTop = '0'; } } if (headerSticky) return; if (headerFixed) { header.style.marginTop = `${fixedBannerTopContainer.offsetHeight}px`; } else { const observer = new MutationObserver((mutationsList, observer) => { for (const mutation of mutationsList) { if (mutation.type === 'childList' && fixedBannerTopContainer.childElementCount > 0) { notFixedBannerTopContainer.style.marginTop = `${fixedBannerTopContainer.offsetHeight}px`; observer.disconnect(); // 停止观察 break; } } }); // 开始观察 fixedBannerTopContainer 的子节点变化 observer.observe(fixedBannerTopContainer, { childList: true, subtree: true }); // 初始检查 if (fixedBannerTopContainer.childElementCount > 0) { notFixedBannerTopContainer.style.marginTop = `${fixedBannerTopContainer.offsetHeight}px`; } if(header) { header.style.marginTop = '0'; } } if (isBoost) { fixedBannerTopContainer.style.zIndex = '1031'; if (boostHeader && boostHeader.classList.contains('header__fixed')) { boostHeader.style.marginTop = `${fixedBannerTopContainer.offsetHeight}px`; } else { notFixedBannerTopContainer.style.marginTop = `${fixedBannerTopContainer.offsetHeight}px`; } } }, 16); window.addEventListener('scroll', handleScroll); window.dispatchEvent(new Event('scroll')); } catch (error) { console.error('error', error); } } // 上报数据 async reportData(data) { // 如果是主题编辑器则不用处理 if(window.top !== window.self) { return; } this.xhr_.fetchJson(API.REPORT, { method: "POST", body: { placement_id: data.placement_id, event: data.event } }); } // 监听购物车变化事件dj.cartChange listenCartChange_() { SPZUtils.Event.listen(document, 'dj.cartChange', (event) => { this.fetchData_('cartChange'); }); } setupAction_() { this.registerAction('handleClose', (invocation) => { const data = invocation.args; const id = data.id; const announcement = document.querySelector(`#announcement-${id}`); announcement && SPZCore.Dom.removeElement(announcement); window.dispatchEvent(new Event('scroll')); }); this.registerAction('handleJumpLink', (invocation) => { const data = invocation.args; if(!data.show_url) return; data.url && window.open(data.url, data.open_new_window ? '_blank' : '_self'); this.reportData({ placement_id: data.id, event: REPORT_EVENT.CLICK }); }); } triggerEvent_(name, data) { const event = SPZUtils.Event.create(this.win, `${ TAG }.${ name }`, data || {}); this.action_.trigger(this.element, name, event); } isLayoutSupported(layout) { return layout == SPZCore.Layout.CONTAINER; } } SPZ.defineElement(TAG, SpzCustomAnnouncement);