根
ne[ne̞]
The English word 'root' translates to Japanese as 根.
根 refers to the part of a plant.
Meaning: part of a plant (noun)
Which one should you use?
For mathematical purposes, the term for square root is 平方根. In colloquial or casual conversation, speakers often use 根っこ to refer to a plant's root.
How do you pronounce it?
ne
Did you know?
- In Japanese, the word 根 is used in the expression 根回し (nemawashi), which refers to the process of quietly laying the groundwork for a project by talking to people privately.
- The term 根性 (konjō) uses the character for root to describe a person's grit, willpower or innate nature.
- Japanese uses the word 根 in the idiom 根を詰めすぎる, meaning to overwork oneself or obsess over a detail to the point of exhaustion.
Examples in context
- 金は諸悪の根源。Money is the root of all evil.This sentence shows how 根 is used in the expression 'the root of all evil'.Tatoeba #179729 by KK_kaku_, translation #18505 by orcrist
- 僕らは９の平方根は３だと学校で習った。We learned at school that the square root of nine is three.This sentence demonstrates the mathematical use of 根 in the term for 'square root'.Tatoeba #81712 by bunbuku, translation #322003 by CK
- 麻薬の密売は根こそぎ絶やさなければならない。We must eradicate the drug traffic, root and branch.This sentence illustrates the use of 根 in an idiomatic expression meaning to eradicate something completely.Tatoeba #81429 by KK_kaku_, translation #322286 by Dejo
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Himari and Daito are gardening together.
- 陽葵 Himariこの植物は根がとても長いです。Kono shokubutsu wa ne ga totemo nagai desu.This plant has very long roots.
- 大翔 Hiroto本当だね。根が鉢から出ているよ。Hontō da ne. Ne ga hachi kara dete iru yo.You're right. The roots are coming out of the pot.
- 陽葵 Himariもっと大きな鉢に植え替えよう。Motto ōkina hachi ni uekae-yō.Let's transplant it into a bigger pot.
- 大翔 Hirotoそうだね。根を傷つけないようにしよう。Sō da ne. Ne o kizutsukenai yō ni shiyō.Good idea. Let's be careful not to damage the roots.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “root” translations and entries 根, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
