根回し ねまわし laying the groundwork N1 #6,502 Meanings noun, takes する, intransitive laying the groundwork; behind-the-scenes maneuvering; consensus-building process digging around the roots of a tree (before transplanting) Its kanji 根 コン · ね、-ね root, radical, head (pimple) 回 カイ、エ · まわ.る、-まわ.る、-まわ.り、まわ.す、-まわ.す、まわ.し-、-まわ.し、もとお.る、か.える -times, round, game, revolve, counter for occurrences