根(ね)っこ ねっこ noun root (of a plant) informalcolloquial 1. root (of a plant) The underground part of a plant that absorbs water and nutrients. Slightly informal/colloquial. 木(き)の根(ね)っこが土(つち)から出(で)ている。🔊 The roots of the tree are sticking out of the ground. 根(ね)っこから引(ひ)き抜(ぬ)いた。🔊 I pulled it out from the root. 雑草(ざっそう)の根(ね)っこを取(と)る。🔊 I remove the roots of the weeds. 台風(たいふう)で大(おお)きな木(き)が根(ね)っこから倒(たお)れた。🔊 A large tree fell from its roots in the typhoon. 古(ふる)い木(き)の根(ね)っこは地面(じめん)の下(した)に深(ふか)く広(ひろ)がっていて、なかなか抜(ぬ)けない。🔊 The roots of old trees spread deep underground and are hard to pull out. 根(ね)っこ is a colloquial term for the root of a plant.Forms根(ね) (root) + っこ (diminutive/casual suffix)Common expressions根(ね)っこから引(ひ)き抜(ぬ)く: to pull out from the root根(ね)っこを取(と)る: to remove the roots木(き)の根(ね)っこ: tree rootsRegisterSlightly informal/colloquial. Use 根(ね) in more formal contexts.Related words根(ね): root (standard)根元(ねもと): base, root area根(ね)を張(は)る: to take root (figurative)UsageCan imply the fundamental/deep-rooted part: 問題(もんだい)の根(ね)っこ (the root of a problem). Related Words Synonym: 根(ね) (root (standard)) Related: 根元(ねもと) (base, root area) core Added 2026.1.16 23:02 · Revised 2026.9.2 12:02 05500/05880_nekko