Many people (mostly fangirls) get the term Yaoi, mixed up with the term shounen-ai though the two may be closely related being that they both show relationships between male characters, there is a difference. One depicts explicit content So let's clear things up, shall we?

Yaoi is used to describe titles that contain sex scenes and other sexually explicit themes

Shounen-ai is used to describe titles that focus more on romance and do not include explicit sexual content
We'll use the Gravitation manga series and doujinshi as an example
Gravitation would more likely be considered shounen-ai due to its focus on the characters' careers rather than their "love life"
Gravitation Remix and Megamix would be considered yaoi because of its emphasis on the characters' sexual relationships.
by iLoki May 7, 2013
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EVERYONE KNOWS it stands for Young Academics On Ice!! Gawd.

(at least, that's what you tell your parents... muahahaha...)
Mom & Dad: What're you watchin?

You: Yaoi.

Mom & Dad: ...What's that?

You: Uhm... Young Academics On Ice...?

Mom & Dad: Oh, okay! Have fun, then :
by kougazluvr0413 October 7, 2008
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Yaoi is a slang meaning 'boys love' or homosexuality that is used in the japanese language. Popular with fangirls who like their favorite anime guys to kiss.
Damn, I need some good yaoi fan-fics!
by Francesca December 20, 2003
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In the Japanese industry, Boy's Love, homosexuality, gay love.

What every otaku will inevitably stumble upon and pass by.
What every female otaku will inevitably stumble upon and remain.
Popular in fanfictions usually including the girl's favorite pairing, two characters that are coupled together.
Consists of doujinshi and fanfictions, also drama CDs.
Male equivalent of yuri, lesbian relationship.
Guy1: Hey, man, what's up? It's been a while! //brohug//
Guy2: Nothing much, it's nice to see you! //hugs back//
Girl: Oh my gosh, it's real life yaoi! //nosebleed//
Guy1 & Guy2: the fuck...
by Murasakii Shikibu January 25, 2015
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Yaoi is a Japanese word, which is actually something of an acronym. It comes from "YAma nashi, Ochi nashi, Imi nashi", which means "no climax, no point, no meaning".

In speech and writing, it's a slang term used to refer to stories that focus on homosexual relationships, usually between men. Yaoi tends to involve graphic sex, often with little or no plot. The female equivalent is yuri.

A related genre is shonen-ai, or "boys' love", which tends to involve less sex and more cuddling (and plot).
I love reading yaoi fanfiction!
Did you see that new yaoi manga?
by SolarCat August 17, 2005
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Yaoi is a shortened version of the term "Yama nashi, Ochi nashi, Imi nashi"; which means "No plot, no point, no meaning."

And while this is what it DOES mean, the term is loosely used in the United States to mean something else. The actual term itself SHOULD be the same as a PWP (or porn without plot), but that's not always the case. If you ever talk to a fangirl/boy, many of them will actually mean it as the following:
PWP: Pure sex, nothing else to it.
Yaoi: Plot involved, but 18+ content.
Shonen-ai: Plot and only PG-13 content.

Other terms that should be known for the understanding of the BL genre (or boy's love) are doujinshi (fanfics basically), Shota (pedophilia), and tanbi (which isn't used anymore, but it set the ground for BL).

Oh and to those out there that will find this out the long way, just because Juné SAYS it's a yaoi manga, it doesn't always mean that. The rating on the back will determine if it's a yaoi or not.
person 1: Hey, the book says it's a yaoi, but is it really?
person 2: Depends, do they have sex?
person 1: Yes.
person 2: Do you SEE them having sex?
person 1: No.
Person 2: Then no.
by Crazed4now August 5, 2008
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Gay poooooooooooooorn. ;D
Naruto: ahh! Sasuke! Not there..AHHH!
Sasuke:-Moans and groans-
~Yaoi~
by Rikachu July 7, 2006
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