1.
sunken hearth, traditional Japanese fireplace
A square pit cut into the floor of a traditional Japanese house, used for heating and cooking. Charcoal or wood is burned in it, and a pot can be hung above it.
囲炉裏を囲む。
To sit around the hearth.
囲炉裏で魚を焼いた。
I grilled fish over the hearth.
古い民家には囲炉裏があり、家族がそこに集まって食事をしていた。
Old farmhouses had a sunken hearth where the family would gather to eat.
CULTURE:
The 囲炉裏 was the center of daily life in traditional Japanese homes, serving as a source of warmth, a place to cook, and a gathering spot for the family. Today they are rarely found in modern homes but can be seen in traditional inns (旅館), folk museums, and rural restaurants. Some modern restaurants feature 囲炉裏-style seating as an atmosphere element.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 囲炉裏を囲む: to gather around the hearth
- 囲炉裏端: by the hearth
- 囲炉裏料理: hearth-cooked cuisine