序曲|じょきょくjokyoku[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. nounoverture; prelude

• Synonym前奏曲ぜんそうきょくWrittenWritten term for a prelude: a short piece before a suite, or an independent piece of that genre, like Chopin's preludes; 「序曲」 usually opens an opera.
• Related導入部どうにゅうぶNeutralNeutral word for the part of a piece or text leading into the main subject; 「序曲」 is music played before a show or piece begins, and figuratively the start of something.
• RelatedオーバーチュアWrittenWritten-style loanword for an overture, but rarely used; 「序曲」 is the usual word.
• Related序奏じょそうWrittenWritten word for the introduction before the main body of a piece; 「序曲」 is a self-contained opening piece.
• Antonym終曲しゅうきょくWrittenWritten word for the final piece of a suite, also used figuratively for the end of something; the opposite of 「序曲」.

Use 「序曲」 for the music that opens an opera or performance, and figuratively for the start of something. A prelude, before a suite or standalone like Chopin's, is 「前奏曲」; the intro before a piece's main body is 「序奏」, and the closing piece is 「終曲」.

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

1. 劇げきや楽曲がっきょくの始はじまりの前まえに演奏えんそうされる、導入どうにゅう的てきな音楽おんがく。