also: ちょろん
noun
Formal term for the introductory section of a book, thesis, or discourse. Similar to 序論 (じょろん), but 緒論 is less common and may carry a slightly more literary or academic tone.
彼の論文の緒論には研究の目的が簡潔に述べられている。
The purpose of the research is concisely stated in the introduction of his thesis.
この本の緒論を読めば、全体の構成がよくわかる。
Reading the preface of this book gives a good understanding of its overall structure.
Alternate reading; less common than しょろん.
Sino-Japanese compound of 緒 (beginning, thread) and 論 (argument, discourse). The reading しょろん is the standard on'yomi; ちょろん is a less common variant.