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根掘り葉掘り (nehorihahori) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

根ね掘ほり葉は掘ほり

ね

ほ

り

は

ほ

り

Common word›JLPTN1›

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.

Kanji

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

Related words

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.
詳くわしく
詳しく simply means 'in detail' without any judgment, while 根掘り葉掘り implies nosy, exhaustive questioning.

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.

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.