Where does “shounen ai” come from?

shounen ai (English) comes from Japanese 少年愛, from Japanese 愛, from Old Japanese な, from Old Japanese の, from Middle Chinese 能 — talent, ability.

shounen ai (English): A narrative or visual work featuring a romance or sexual relationship between two or more males

Definitions

  1. A narrative or visual work featuring a romance or sexual relationship between two or more males

Ancestry of “shounen ai”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Japanese少年愛pederasty, love toward boys
2Japanese愛love; affection; tenderness
3Old Japaneseなany sharp and thin cutting implement: a blade,...
4Old Japaneseのplain, field
5Middle Chinese能talent, ability
Every word from Middle Chinese 能 →Every word from Old Japanese の →Every word from Old Japanese な →