1.
ripples; wavelets; gentle waves
Small, gentle waves on the surface of water, typically caused by a light breeze.
2.
slight disturbance; ripple effect
A small disturbance or subtle influence that spreads through a group or situation, used figuratively.
Can be written in kanji as 漣 or 細波, but the hiragana form is most common. A poetic and evocative word frequently used in literature, song lyrics, and scenic descriptions. The figurative sense describes small but noticeable disturbances that spread through a community or situation.