Yaoi is an acronym in Japanese that gives a negative viewpoint of gay relationships.  Yaoi may relate to storylines that revolve around homosexual relationships between men, or to art made by anime fans and storylines that couple male characters from popular series.  Yaoi in the United States brings with it bigger references to homoerotic behavior.  

Bunches of threads twisted to create a continuous strand.  Yarn is most often used in woven fabrics are used for knitting.

Yuri translates to “lily flower.”  In Japan, the term usually refers to storylines that involve woman/woman relationships that are authored by men and directed at men.  However, the term in the United States brings with it references to erotic sexual behaviors between women.