Just to clear things up. Bl can be "yaoi" or "shounen ai" so I guess you could still use those terms if you want to specify but most people just don't use it anymore in Japan apparently. It's why Bl that is labelled "yaoi" or "shounen ai" tends to be in the older style if you understand what I mean.
To add, manhwa usually means that it’s been published into a graphic novel. Webtoons are the Korean works that we read online, because the majority of which is online only. Though you can use both terms, because both are related to Korean works.
Manga is usually more strictly Japanese works because of the Japanese publishing system. Unless you get works from like Renta, who are more webcomic format. But those are still called manga because of the Japanese style.
Thank you for making this post!
Ah, people also bringing up the Yaoi term. It’s still used in the west and being a person from the west, I’m okay using it. Though I tend to use more BL now, I still say Yaoi when talking about smuttier works because the term Yaoi means “porn with out plot”. I just wouldn’t use it when in Asia or searching for merch or something similar. The one that I have problems with is that pedophiles used Shounen Ai to do a young man prostitution ring in Japan. Because “Shounen” means “minors”. So I actually don’t like using that term at all and I think instead of fighting over the use of Yaoi, I think we should stop using Shounen Ai.
(so we could avoid misunderstandings) ٩(๑~▽~๑)۶
BL- a general term which directly means 'boys love' any story that involves boy x boy, it doesn't necessarily have to be sexual
yaoi- relationship between guys that involve sexual acts or the sexual acts are visible in the chapters
shounen ai- romantic relationship between guys but it doesn't focuses on sexual acts or usually doesn't involve visible intercourse in the chapters.
now let's distinguish manga, manhwa, and manhua
manga- japanese comics which are usually black and white but there are cases where they offer colored pages(not fully). we read it from right to left
manhwa- korean web comics which are known to have full colored pages but there are also times where they offer black and white ones. read it from left to right.
manhua- chinese comics and doesn't usually involve any sexual act in chapters because its against the law. also read this one from left to right.
hope it helps somehow? (⌒o⌒)
coz I also encounter misunderstandings when they literally type "manga" but they were actually looking for "manhwa"