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.
General term for a nameplate or inscribed plate, often metal, used for commemorative or informational purposes.
建物の入り口に銘板が設置されている。
A plaque is installed at the entrance of the building.
Specifically a commemorative plaque, emphasizing the memorial aspect.
公園には戦没者を追悼する記念銘板がある。
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.
ドアに「会議室」と書かれたプレートが付いている。
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.
日本の家の玄関には表札がよく掛けてある。
Japanese houses often have a nameplate by the entrance.
A sticky, colorless film of bacteria that forms on teeth.
The standard medical/dental term for dental plaque.
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).
An abnormal deposit or patch on a body surface or within a blood vessel, such as arterial plaque or skin plaques in psoriasis.
The standard medical term for plaque in contexts like atherosclerosis or dermatology.
動脈硬化は血管内にプラークが蓄積することで起こる。
Arteriosclerosis occurs when plaque builds up inside blood vessels.
乾癬では皮膚に銀白色のプラークが現れる。
In psoriasis, silvery-white plaques appear on the skin.
Specifically atheromatous plaque, used in cardiology.
アテローム性プラークの破裂が心筋梗塞を引き起こす。
Rupture of atheromatous plaque causes myocardial infarction.
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.
毎日のプラークコントロールが大切です。
Daily plaque control is important.