Translation guide
The English word "plaque" covers several distinct concepts. This guide organizes them by meaning: a commemorative or informational flat plate, dental plaque, and medical plaque (such as in arteries or on skin).
A flat, often inscribed plate attached to a wall, monument, or object to commemorate a person, event, or provide information.
A sticky, colorless film of bacteria that forms on teeth.
The standard medical/dental term for dental plaque.
An abnormal deposit or patch on a body surface or within a blood vessel, such as arterial plaque or skin plaques in psoriasis.
Do not use 銘板 or プレート for dental or medical plaque. Those refer to physical plates. Use 歯垢 or プラーク for dental, and プラーク for medical contexts.
General term for a nameplate or inscribed plate, often metal, used for commemorative or informational purposes.
A plaque is installed at the entrance of the building.
Specifically a commemorative plaque, emphasizing the memorial aspect.
There is a commemorative plaque in the park honoring the war dead.
Loanword from English 'plate', often used for smaller or simpler plaques, like nameplates on desks or doors.
There is a plaque on the door that says 'Conference Room'.
Specifically a nameplate on a house or gate, showing the family name. Not used for commemorative plaques.
Only for residential nameplates, not for general plaques.
Japanese houses often have a nameplate by the entrance.
歯垢を放置すると虫歯や歯周病の原因になる。
If you leave plaque untreated, it can cause cavities and gum disease.
Loanword from English, commonly used in dental contexts, often in compound terms like 'プラークコントロール' (plaque control).
Daily plaque control is important.
The standard medical term for plaque in contexts like atherosclerosis or dermatology.
Arteriosclerosis occurs when plaque builds up inside blood vessels.
In psoriasis, silvery-white plaques appear on the skin.
Specifically atheromatous plaque, used in cardiology.
Rupture of atheromatous plaque causes myocardial infarction.