根ね掘ほり葉は掘ほり

ね

ほ

り

は

ほ

り

Common wordJLPTN1

Meanings

1

expression, adverb

inquisitively; pryingly; thoroughly

Describes asking questions or investigating in a persistent, nosy, or exhaustive manner. Often used with verbs like 聞く, 尋ねる, or 調べる.

彼かれは私わたしのことを根ね掘ほり葉は掘ほり聞きいてきた。
He asked me about everything inquisitively.
面めん接せつ官かんに

根ね

掘ほ

り

葉は

掘ほ

り

質しつ

問もん

さ

れ

た

。

I was questioned thoroughly by the interviewer.

Written forms

根ね掘ほり葉は掘ほり
Standard kanji spelling; the most common written form.
根ねほり葉はほり
Mixed kanji-kana spelling, also commonly seen.
根ね堀ほり葉は堀ほり
irregular kanji usage
Irregular kanji usage; 堀 is not standard for this word.

Kanji

根root, radical, head (pimple)
掘dig, delve, excavate
葉leaf, plane, lobe
堀ditch, moat, canal

Similar words

しつこく
しつこく means 'persistently' or 'insistently' and can be used for any repeated action, while 根掘り葉掘り specifically implies nosy or exhaustive questioning.
細こまかく
細かく means 'in detail' or 'minutely' and is neutral, whereas 根掘り葉掘り carries a nuance of prying or being overly inquisitive.

Etymology

From 根 (root) + 掘り (digging) and 葉 (leaf) + 掘り (digging), literally 'digging up roots and leaves', figuratively meaning to investigate every detail thoroughly.