Uke and Seme: Meaning and Roles in the Yaoi Universe

Uke and Seme are the two basic terms used in the Yaoi universe to describe the roles of each character in a relationship, both in a physical and emotional sense. Both words come from Japanese and have their roots in martial arts: Uke (受け) is the one who receives, and Seme (攻め) is the one who attacks.

Yaoi, also known as Boys' Love (BL), is a genre of manga, anime, and other media that focuses on romantic homosexual relationships between male characters. Originating from Japan, the genre has gained popularity worldwide and attracted a diverse fan base, mainly from the female audience. The reasons behind that audience are the subject of Why do women like Yaoi? Unraveling the Fujoshi.

The genre took shape in the late 1970s in the Japanese dōjinshi scene, where fans published their own comics featuring characters from known series. From there it spread through manga, anime, and later streaming, and Uke and Seme remain the most common way to talk about the roles in these stories.

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The Meaning of Uke and Seme

Uke (受け): The term Uke, in Japanese, literally means "receiver" or "one who receives." In the context of Yaoi, the Uke is the more passive, submissive character, and is usually younger or physically smaller in the relationship.

The Uke typically plays the role of "bottom" (the one who is penetrated) in sexual relations and may exhibit characteristics of vulnerability, sensitivity, and emotional expression.

Seme (攻め): The term Seme, in Japanese, literally means "attacker" or "one who attacks." In the context of Yaoi, the Seme is the more dominant, assertive character, and is usually older or physically larger in the relationship.

The Seme often takes on the role of "top" (the one who penetrates) in sexual relations and may exhibit characteristics of protection, authority, and emotional control.

Fans decide which character is the uke and which is the seme in each pairing, and the result can vary from one work, one couple, or one reader to another.

Origins of the Terms Uke and Seme

The terms Uke and Seme are derived from practices of Japanese martial arts such as Judo, Aikido, and Kendo. Uke goes back to the verb ukeru (受ける), "to receive", and refers to the person who takes a technique; Seme comes from semeru (攻める), "to attack", and refers to the attacking side and the pressure it applies to create an opening.

What the Uke actually does varies from one martial art to another. In aikido, judo kata, and ninjutsu, for example, the Uke initiates the attack and the partner defends, while in other situations the Uke receives the technique and takes care to fall safely.

The terms Uke and Seme were adopted in the Yaoi (Boys' Love) universe during the late 1970s and 1980s, when the genre began to gain popularity in Japan. The transfer is easy to follow, because both the martial arts and the stories involve a clear division between giving and taking: one side acts, the other reacts. In Yaoi, Uke and Seme describe the power dynamics and the roles played by the characters in the relationship.

Stereotypes and Variations of Uke and Seme

Although the roles of Uke and Seme are often associated with certain personality and appearance stereotypes, not every Yaoi character fits perfectly into these categories.

Some authors and artists explore more complex and dynamic relationships, where the roles of Uke and Seme may be less defined or even reversible. Alongside the classic division, fans use other terms for these cases:

1. Reversible (リバ, Riba): A relationship in which the characters can alternate the roles of Uke and Seme, challenging the typical conventions of dominance and submission. The word Riba is a shortening of the Japanese pronunciation of "reversible" (リバーシブル).
2. Tachi (タチ) and Neko (ネコ): These terms for the active and the passive partner come from the Japanese LGBT community, where they were first used by lesbians and later adopted by gay men as well. In Yaoi and BL, Seme and Uke remain the usual words.

Behind the terms is a convention that fans use to talk about relationships, and many stories play with that expectation: a shy character can turn out to be the Seme, and some couples deliberately exchange roles. Readers who want examples can start with the list of 50 Best Yaoi, Shounen Ai, and BL Animes, which shows how differently these roles can be drawn.