introduction; introductory remarks
Used for a preliminary section of a book, thesis, or lecture that outlines the main content. More formal than はじめに.
In the introduction of this book, the author explains the purpose of the research.
He wrote an introduction on modern philosophy.
He stated the purpose of the book in the introduction.
The professor wrote an introduction to the new theory.
結論 is the concluding section of a work, standing opposite to 序説, its introductory section.
序文 shares the kanji 序 with 序説 but refers to a personal preface or foreword, while 序説 outlines the actual content that follows.
Compound of 序 (order, preface) and 説 (explanation, theory). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the spelling is conventionally associated with introductory explanations.