enamel; enamelware
Refers to the glassy coating material (enamel) and to household items made of enamel-coated metal, such as pots, sinks, and bathtubs.
この鍋はほうろう製で、酸に強い。
This pot is made of enamel and is resistant to acid.
祖母の家には古いほうろうの洗面器がある。
At my grandmother's house, there is an old enamel washbasin.
tooth enamel
Usually written in kana; the kanji 琺瑯 is rare and may not be widely recognized.
Katakana spelling often used in product descriptions and packaging.
Katakana spelling with long vowel marks; less common than ホーロー.
Kanji form is uncommon; learners should use the kana spelling.
The word ほうろう is believed to derive from Portuguese 'esmalte' or Dutch 'email', possibly via a Chinese intermediary. The kanji 琺瑯 are ateji (phonetic equivalents) and are rarely used in modern Japanese.