序文

• 読み: じょぶん
• ローマ字: jobun
• 漢字の分解: 序 (jo) — introduction, prelude; 文 (bun) — text, writing
• 発音: /dʑo.bɯ.ɴ/

意味

Preface; foreword; introduction. Introductory text at the beginning of a book or work that explains the author's aims, background, or context.

A noun used in publishing and literary contexts. 序文 typically refers to a preface written by the author themselves (as distinct from 跋文 — afterword — or はしがき — a more informal preface). It is common in academic books, literary collections, and translated works. The term can also be used metaphorically for any introductory remarks that set the stage for what follows.

例文

1. 著者みずからが書いた序文が、作品の理解を大きく助けてくれる。
2. 序文を読むだけで、著者が伝えたいことの大半が分かる。
3. 翻訳書の序文には、原著との違いが丁寧に説明されていた。

使い方ガイド

場面: publishing, academic writing, literature

トーン: informational

起源と歴史

From 序 (jo — introduction, order) and 文 (bun — text, writing). The character 序 originally depicted the east side of a hall, later acquiring the sense of 'beginning' or 'ordering before the main matter.'

文化的背景

時代: Classical

世代: Adults

社会的背景: Educated