波紋(はもん)

はもん
noun
ripple, repercussions
1. ripple, ring-shaped wave
Concentric circular waves spreading outward from a point of disturbance on a water surface.
石(いし)を投(な)げると波紋(はもん)が広(ひろ)がった。
Ripples spread when I threw a stone.
水面(すいめん)に美(うつく)しい波紋(はもん)ができた。
Beautiful ripples formed on the water's surface.
池(いけ)に落(お)ちた葉(は)が小(ちい)さな波紋(はもん)を描(えが)いた。
A leaf that fell into the pond traced small ripples.
2. repercussions, ripple effect
The spreading impact or consequences of an event, especially something controversial or disruptive.
その発言(はつげん)は大(おお)きな波紋(はもん)を呼(よ)んだ。
That remark caused a big stir.
辞任(じにん)のニュースが政界(せいかい)に波紋(はもん)を広(ひろ)げた。
The news of the resignation sent ripples through the political world.
あの事件(じけん)が社会(しゃかい)に投(な)げかけた波紋(はもん)は今(いま)も消(き)えていない。
The repercussions that incident cast over society have still not faded.

KANJI:
波(は) (wave) + 紋(もん) (pattern). Literally "wave pattern."

USAGE:
The figurative sense (sense 2) is extremely common in news and formal writing, often in the set phrase 波紋(はもん)を呼(よ)ぶ (to cause a stir/repercussions) or 波紋(はもん)を広(ひろ)げる (to spread repercussions).

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 波紋(はもん)を呼(よ)ぶ: to cause a stir
  • 波紋(はもん)を広(ひろ)げる: to spread ripples/repercussions
  • 波紋(はもん)が広(ひろ)がる: ripples/repercussions spread
  • 波紋(はもん)を投(な)げかける: to cause ripple effects
general
Added 2026.2.8 13:46
10500/10553_hamon