根茎

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 根茎 is read こんけい and names a rhizome, an underground stem such as that of ginger.
• Basic usage: In ショウガの根茎を薄く切り、料理に加えた。, ginger rhizome is thinly sliced and added to a dish.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A stem rather than a root
  • Although its name contains a character meaning root, 根茎 is a type of stem. 地下の根茎 likewise refers to an underground stem.