1.
explanatory book; commentary; manual; guide
A book or document that explains or provides commentary on a subject, work, or system. Covers everything from instruction manuals to scholarly commentaries.
解説書を読んでから始めよう。
Let's read the manual before we start.
この法律の解説書は初心者にも分かりやすい。
This commentary on the law is easy to understand even for beginners.
古典文学の解説書を参考にしながら、原文を読み進めた。
I read through the original text while referring to a commentary on classical literature.
Compound of 解説 ('explanation; commentary') and 書 ('book; document'). Follows the productive 〜書 pattern for books and documents: 教科書 ('textbook'), 参考書 ('reference book'), 説明書 ('instruction manual').
USAGE:
- Broader than 説明書, which typically refers to product manuals and instructions
- Can describe academic commentaries, legal guides, technical manuals, and interpretive works
- Often used with a topic prefix: 法律解説書 ('legal commentary'), 税務解説書 ('tax guide')
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 解説書を書く: to write a commentary
- 解説書を参照する: to consult a manual
- 入門解説書: introductory guide
- 詳しい解説書: detailed commentary
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 説明書: instruction manual — specifically for how-to instructions, often for products
- 参考書: reference book — a book for study or reference, especially for exam preparation
- 手引き: handbook; guide — a practical, often shorter guide for a specific task or procedure