根付

Compound of 根 (ne, “root, base”) +‎ 付け (tsuke, “attachment, attacher”), the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 付ける (tsukeru, “to attach”, transitive), from the way the netsuke was attached to the end of the drawstring of a coin purse or pouch to prevent the drawstring from slipping through one's 帯 (obi, “sash, belt”).[1][2]

See the 提げ物 (sagemono) entry for an illustration of how netsuke were used.

• Kun’yomi
  • (Tokyo) ねつけ [nètsúké] (Heiban – [0])[2][3]
  • (Tokyo) ねつけ​ [nètsúkéꜜ] (Odaka – [3])[2][3]
  • IPA^(key): [ne̞t͡sɨ̥ᵝke̞]

• 根付け

根付 (hiragana ねつけ, rōmaji netsuke)

1. a netsuke: miniature sculptures that serve as a fastener for a sagemono (a pouch, like a coin purse, tobacco pouch, or pillbox).

• 着物 (きもの) (kimono)
• 帯 (おび) (obi)
• 提 (さ)げ物 (もの) (sagemono)
• 印 (いん)籠 (ろう) (inrō)

Compound of 根 (ne, “root, base”) +‎ 付き (tsuki, “attaching”), the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 付く (tsuku, “to attach”, intransitive).[1][2]

• Kun’yomi
  • (Tokyo) ねつき​ [nètsúkíꜜ] (Odaka – [3])[2]
  • IPA^(key): [ne̞t͡sɨᵝkʲi]

• 根付き

根付 (hiragana ねつき, rōmaji netsuki)

1. rooting
2. a rooted plant
3. short for 根付き魚 (netsuki uo): a non-migratory fish that lives among the roots of seaweed or coral