Tropes frequently associated with the
Boys' Love Genre. Also see
Boys Love Types for characterization and relationship tropes that don't merit their own pages. Also see
Bara Genre, for the equivalent genre for gay/bi men.
- Barbie Doll Anatomy: This is more common in the less sexually explicit series, but also shows up in the full-on erotic stories, which can be confusing if you're not used to it. Yes, that glowing cone of light is meant to be a penis.
- Bastard Boyfriend
- Bishōnen
- Cast Full of Gay: For series that don't go with Everyone is Bi.
- Cast Full of Pretty Boys
- Crazy Jealous Guy: For the more possessive seme characters, although ukes are just as applicable.
- Closet Key
- Depraved Bisexual: Usually villains, although the kinkier semes can go there.
- Depraved Homosexual: Ditto.
- Even the Guys Want Him
- Everyone is Bi: Rule #1 of BL: no guy, however straight, is capable of resisting a sufficiently hot other guy.
- Gayngst: also Angst, Wangst, and Melodrama in general.
- Good Eyes, Evil Eyes: Ukes typically have wide eyes to show their youth and innocence. Semes typically have narrow eyes to show their maturity and sophistication. Though, today this rule somewhat no longer aplied.
- Ho Yay
- If It's You, It's Okay: If neither Cast Full of Gay nor Everyone is Bi applies, it's likely this.
- Incompatible Orientation - usually very temporary.
- Keet
- Long-Haired Pretty Boy
- One Head Taller: Mostly Seme but some Uke are taller.
- Rape As Backstory
- Seme
- Shirtless Scene
- Single-Target Sexuality: Also good for those cases where neither Cast Full of Gay nor Everyone is Bi apply.
- Stupid Sexy Flanders
- Uke
- Victim Falls For Rapist
- Wholesome Crossdresser: Originally only for ukes: not so much anymore.
