根も葉もない

• 読み: ねもはもない
• ローマ字: nemo hamo nai
• 漢字の分解: 根 (kon/ne) — root; 葉 (yō/ha) — leaf
• 発音: /ne̞mo̞hamo̞nai/

意味

Groundless; baseless; unfounded. Describes a claim, rumour, or accusation that has absolutely no factual basis.

A set idiomatic expression functioning as an i-adjective phrase. The imagery comes from a plant without roots or leaves — something with no substance at all. Used almost exclusively in negative or dismissive contexts to deny or decry false claims. Formal and literary in tone.

例文

1. その噂は根も葉もない話だと本人が公の場で否定した。
2. 根も葉もない憶測で人の名誉を傷つけるのは許されない。
3. 彼女の評判を貶めようとする根も葉もない中傷が広まった。

使い方ガイド

場面: journalism, legal, social disputes, gossip denial

トーン: negative

起源と歴史

An established idiom from classical Japanese, literally meaning 'having neither roots nor leaves.' A plant devoid of both its foundation and growth has no substance whatsoever — used to describe something entirely without basis or evidence.

文化的背景

時代: Classical

世代: Adults

社会的背景: Universal