前編

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 前編 is read as ぜんぺん and means “first part” and “first volume”.
• Basic usage: It denotes the earlier part depicting a protagonist’s boyhood and the first volume read before borrowing the sequel.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 物語の前編 / 後編
  • It can denote an early section of a work or its first volume; its counterpart is 後編.