序文(じょぶん)

じょぶん
noun
preface, foreword
formalacademiccommunication
1. preface, foreword, introduction
The introductory section at the beginning of a book, typically written by the author or another person.
有名(ゆうめい)な教授(きょうじゅ)が序文(じょぶん)を書(か)いた。
A famous professor wrote the foreword.
序文(じょぶん)を読(よ)んでから本文(ほんぶん)に進(すす)んだ。
I read the preface before proceeding to the main text.
著者(ちょしゃ)が序文(じょぶん)で執筆(しっぴつ)の動機(どうき)を語(かた)っている。
The author talks about the motivation for writing in the preface.

Usage: 序文(じょぶん) is used for academic books, novels, and other written works.

Common patterns

Book structure terms

Similar words

  • まえがき - preface (less formal than 序文(じょぶん))
  • はじめに - introduction (common in non-fiction)
  • 緒言(しょげん) - preface (formal, academic)

Related Words

Related: 付録(ふろく) (appendix)
Synonym: 前書(まえが)き (less formal)
Related: 目次(もくじ) (table of contents)
Compare: 緒言(しょげん) (preface)
Related: 前置(まえお)き (preamble)
Compare: 前文(ぜんぶん) (preamble)
Compare: 序論(じょろん) (introduction)
Compare: 序説(じょせつ) (introduction)
Compare: はじめに (to begin with)
general
Added 2026.1.17 13:49 · Revised 2026.9.2 12:02
06000/06205_jobun