How to say "preface" in Japanese

• 前置きまえおきJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbThe general word for remarks made before the main subject, spoken or written. Use it for preliminaries or a preamble — what a speaker gets out of the way before the talk proper.
  彼かれは前置まえおきとして、すこし話はなした。↗

  He said a few words by way of preface.
• 序章じょしょうCommon
  nounLiterally an opening chapter: use it for the introductory chapter of a novel, thesis, or similar work — when 'preface' means a chapter of the book itself rather than a note before the text.
• 序文じょぶんCommon
  nounThe preface or foreword of a book: a self-contained text at the front setting out the work's purpose and background, whether written by the author or by someone else.
  彼かれはその戯曲ぎきょくにすばらしい序文じょぶんを書かいた。↗

  He wrote a fine preface to the play.
• 前書きまえがきCommon
  nounA preface or foreword written at the front of a book, near-synonymous with 序文; it is also used for a short introductory note heading an individual piece or entry.
• 枕詞まくらことばCommon
  nounBest known as a name for the fixed epithets of classical poetry; its 'preface' sense is figurative — lead-in remarks before the main subject — and it is seldom the word you want for a book's preface.

For a book's preface or foreword choose 序文 or 「前書き」; 序章 is the introductory chapter of a work; 「前置き」 covers preliminary remarks before the main subject; 枕詞 is chiefly a term of classical poetry, only figuratively an introduction.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 前置きまえおきpreface
• 序章じょしょうpreface
• 序文じょぶんpreface
• 前書きまえがきpreface
• 前置ぜんちpreface
• 前振りまえふりpreface
• 例言れいげんpreface
• 識語しきごpreface
• 序論じょろんintroduction
• 緒論しょろんintroduction
• 緒言しょげんforeword
• 端書きはしがきforeword
• 序言じょげんforeword
• 序詞じょしforeword
• 詞書きことばがきforeword to a collection of poems
• 巻頭言かんとうげんforeword
• 枕詞まくらことばpreface
• はじめにIntroduction
• 序じょforeword
• 口書きくちがきforeword