sunken hearth; traditional open fireplace
A traditional Japanese heating and cooking fixture set into the floor, often found in old farmhouses. The word is culturally specific and has no exact English equivalent.
My grandmother's house still has a sunken hearth.
In winter, the family gathered around the sunken hearth to keep warm.
囲炉裏 is a traditional Japanese sunken hearth found in old farmhouses, while 暖炉 is a Western-style fireplace.
囲炉裏 names the traditional sunken hearth found in old Japanese houses, whereas 炉 is the general word for any hearth or fireplace.
火鉢 is a portable charcoal container used for warmth in a room, while 囲炉裏 is a sunken hearth built into the floor of a traditional house.
fireside; hearthside
Standard kanji spelling, though the characters are ateji (phonetic).
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing, especially when the kanji are considered difficult or ateji.
The word いろり is of native Japanese origin. The kanji 囲炉裏 are ateji (phonetic characters) and do not reflect the word's etymology.