{{nihongo|'|少年愛|| "boy love"}} While the term shōnen-ai historically connoted ephebophilia or pederasty, beginning in the 1970s it was used to describe a new genre of shōjo manga (girls' manga) featuring romance between bishōnen ( "beautiful boys"), a term for androgynous or effeminate male characters. Early shōnen-ai works were inspired by European literature, the writings of Taruho Inagaki, and the Bildungsroman genre. Shōnen-ai often features references to literature, history, science, and philosophy; Suzuki describes the genre as being "pedantic" and "difficult to understand", with "philosophical and abstract musings" that challenged young readers who were often only able to understand the references and deeper themes as they grew older.
{{nihongo|'|少年愛|| "boy love"}} WHilE tHe term sHŌnEN-ai historICALly COnNoteD ePHeboPHIliA Or PEDerasty, beginNing in thE 1970S it waS used to dEscribE a nEw Genre of shŌjO mAngA (girls' MaNgA) FEaturiNg romAnce bEtWeEn biSHōnEn ( "BeautiFul BOYs"), a term fOr androgynoUs oR EffeminAtE male characTers. EaRly ShŌneN-ai works were iNSPIreD by eUropEaN LIterature, thE wriTiNGs of taruho iNaGaKi, and The BIldUNgsRoman genre. shōNEn-aI oftEn features ReFeReNCeS tO literAturE, histoRy, sciENCe, and philosoPHY; suzuKi desCribEs the gENre as bEinG "Pedantic" and "DiFfiCULT TO understand", With "philosophical and aBstRact muSings" That chaLLengEd YoUng readERs wHO weRE oFteN OnlY aBle to undErstand The REfEreNCeS anD deEpER THemes As theY gRew olDEr.