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

序文(じょぶん)を書(か)く (to write a preface)
序文(じょぶん)を読(よ)む (to read the preface)

RELATED WORDS (parts of a book):

序文(じょぶん) / まえがき - preface, foreword
目次(もくじ) - table of contents
本文(ほんぶん) - main text
付録(ふろく) - appendix
あとがき - afterword

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)

Related: 本文(ほんぶん) (main text)

Related: あとがき (afterword)

general

Added 2026.1.17 13:49 · Revised 2026.10.11 4:53

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