前置き|まえおきmaeoki[0]heiban (flat)

1. noun, suru verb, intransitive verbpreface; introduction; preamble
   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.

• Synonym導入どうにゅうNeutralMeans bringing something in or introducing it, and also the lead-in opening of a talk; 「前置き」 is specifically the preliminary words before the main subject.
• Synonym序文じょぶんWrittenA written text before a book's body explaining its purpose; 「前置き」 works in speech and writing alike for any words before the point.
• Synonym導入部どうにゅうぶNeutralThe introductory section of a work; 「前置き」 is about the words of preamble themselves.
• SynonymイントロNeutralLoanword for the intro — the opening stretch of a piece of music or a talk; 「前置き」 stresses the words of preamble.
• Synonym前文ぜんぶんWrittenA preamble to laws or constitutions, the greetings opening a letter, or text written earlier; 「前置き」 is the talk before the point.
• Synonym序章じょしょうNeutralThe chapter placed before the main body of a novel or thesis, also figuratively the start of events; 「前置き」 is the lead-in talk itself.
• Synonym序説じょせつWrittenWritten style: an introduction before the main argument, often used in book titles; 「前置き」 is the preliminary talk.
• Synonym前書きまえがきNeutralA book's preface, as in 「本の前書き」; 「前置き」 is not limited to books — it covers remarks before the point in talks and writing too.
• SynonymイントロダクションNeutralLoanword for an introduction or opening presentation; 「前置き」 stresses the words said before getting to the point.
• Synonym前置ぜんちWrittenRare even in written style; basically means placing something in front, though it can also mean a preface. In everyday use say 「前置き」.
• Synonym序じょWrittenHere it means order or sequence, or a book's preface — close to 「前置き」 but rare; in modern usage it mostly means an occasion or doing something in passing.
• Synonym前説まえせつNeutralWarming up an audience before a show, as in 「前説担当」; 「前置き」 is about preliminary remarks in general.
• Synonym緒論しょろんWrittenWritten style: the introduction to a thesis or paper; 「前置き」 broadly means words before the point, in speech or writing.
• Synonym緒言しょげんWrittenWritten style: a foreword to a scholarly work, rather rare; 「前置き」 is ordinary preliminary talk.
• Synonym序言じょげんWrittenWritten style: words composed as a preface; 「前置き」 is general preliminary talk and is used in speech too.
• Synonym序詞じょしWrittenWritten style: a preface, and also the prefatory phrases introducing a waka; 「前置き」 stresses the lead-in remarks.
• Related冒頭ぼうとうNeutralPoints to the very start of a piece of writing or a speech; 「前置き」 stresses the preliminary remarks before the main subject.
• Related総論そうろんNeutralGeneral remarks covering a subject as a whole; 「前置き」 is about the words before the point.
• Related書き出しかきだしNeutralThe opening sentence or paragraph of a piece of writing; 「前置き」 stresses the remarks before getting to the point.
• Antonym本題ほんだいNeutralThe opposite of 「前置き」 on the preamble-versus-main-subject axis: the main topic itself.
• Antonym本論ほんろんWrittenThe written-style opposite: the main body of the argument in a paper or essay, as opposed to the preamble.

Use 「前置き」 for the preliminary words before getting to the point, as in 「前置きが長い」. For a book's preface pick 「前書き」 or 「序文」; for the opening of a piece of writing, 「冒頭」 or 「書き出し」; for warming up an audience, 「前説」. The antonyms are 「本題」 and 「本論」.

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

1. 本論ほんろんに入はいる前まえに述のべること。また、その言葉ことば。