Anime, manga, or fanfic that depicts non-explicit relationships between two males. Usually focuses on the romantic/ loving/ emotional side of the relationship, unlike yaoi which focuses on the passionate/ lustful/ physical side. Usually no more than PG-13 rated.
Non-homophobic soccor moms would have no problem with shounen-ai.
by K. R. H. August 19, 2005
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A genre of anime/manga with the age rating of no more or less than PG -
13. Shounen-ai is aimed towards younger audiences and focuses more on the main characters' relationship and bonding rather than the Sexual/physical side like yaoi
Shounen-ai means "Boy's love" and focuses usually on the life stories of two homosexual/Bisexual males.
I'd rather watch/read shounen-ai than yaoi
by CJYankira July 27, 2016
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A genre for manga and anime, as well as fanfiction. Means 'boy's love'. Tends to be about boy's love but not necessarily about boy's sex and emphasizes the emotions over the sex.
Holly writes mostly shonen ai stories since she's never written a lemon (sex scene).
by Alexi Dalziel August 12, 2003
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Bunneah was half right, but the prepubesent boys genre is refurred to as Syouta (Shota to American fans)

Shounenai, like Tanbi, is no longer written. It was replaced by BL (Boys' Love) which are much more likely to have happy endings & have less drama.
Japanese girls will litteraly roll their eyes at you if they hear you say shounenai ai instead of BL.
by Allaiyah February 29, 2004
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Shounen-ai is an obsolete term. Shounen-ai refers to stories about strong relationships between pubescent or pre-pubescent boys. The stories featured angsty, poetic, platonic or romantic relationships. It is used only to point to shoujo manga written in the 70's and early 80's by authors such as Hagio Moto, Takemiya Keiko, etc. (Titles such as Gymnasium in November, Heart of Thomas, and Song of Wind and Trees.) Shounen-ai is no longer written, ceased to exist as a sub-category of shoujo long ago, and this term has long since fallen into disuse. Later stories with male/male sexual relationships are termed yaoi, tanbi, june, or boys' love.

Shounen-ai is NOT the same term as boys' love.

The current common usage of shounen-ai in Japan is to refer to adults who like young boys (i.e. pedophiles).
Why are Americans always so misinformed?
by Bunneh February 2, 2004
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Anime guy on guy!(what else on earth is hotter may I ask??)
Dude...did you see that hott gravatation picture with Yuki and...that other dude?
by Skittles! May 25, 2005
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