扉絵(とびらえ)

Composed of 扉(とびら) (door; title page) and 絵(え) (picture). In publishing, 扉(とびら) refers to the title page, so 扉絵(とびらえ) is literally the picture on the title/opening page.

Usage

Very common in manga fandom, where each chapter's opening page illustration is called a 扉絵(とびらえ). These are often specially drawn and may contain hidden details or foreshadowing. In book publishing, it refers to the frontispiece — a decorative or thematic illustration at the beginning of a volume.

Common collocations

• 扉絵(とびらえ)を描(か)く: to draw a frontispiece / opening illustration
• 連載(れんさい)の扉絵(とびらえ): the opening illustration of a serialized work
• 扉絵(とびらえ)コレクション: collection of title illustrations
• カラー扉絵(とびらえ): color opening page

Similar words

• 挿絵(さしえ): illustration (inserted in text) — drawings placed within the body of the text, not specifically at the opening
• 表紙(ひょうし): cover — the outer cover of a book or magazine, distinct from the interior title page
• 口絵(くちえ): frontispiece (of a book) — a near-synonym, though 口絵(くちえ) is used more in traditional publishing while 扉絵(とびらえ) is also common in manga