序文

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 序文 (じょぶん) combines opening order 序 and text 文 to denote a preface before the main body.
• Basic usage: It is the introductory passage in which an author may explain the purpose or background of a book.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Preface versus main text
  • 序文 frames the work before its substantive chapters and is not itself the main body of the book.