Mushrooms were growing at the base of the tree.
親指の付け根が痛い。
The base of my thumb hurts.
枝の付け根から折れた。
It broke off at the joint of the branch.
The base of my arm hurts and I can't move it.
The branch broke off right at its base.
There's a pressure point if you press the base of your finger.
根元 refers to the very bottom or root of something like a tree trunk or hair, while 付け根 highlights the point where a part attaches or branches off, such as a limb or finger joint.
基部 is a more formal, technical word for 'base' used in scientific or structural contexts, whereas 付け根 is the everyday term for the attachment point of a body part or branch.
関節 specifically means an anatomical joint that bends (like a knee or elbow), while 付け根 more broadly means the base or attachment point of something, joint or not.
Used when referring to a specific spot or location on something.
Standard kanji spelling; high news frequency.
Mixed kana-kanji variant; less common but still seen.
Abbreviated kanji form; rare in modern writing.
Uses the older 附 character; very rare.
Uses the older 附 character; very rare.
Compound of 付け (tsuke, 'attaching') + 根 (ne, 'root'). Literally 'attachment root', referring to the point where something is attached.