also: ちろ
noun
sunken hearth; fireplace dug into the floor
A traditional Japanese hearth built into the floor or ground, similar to an 囲炉裏 (irori). Used for heating and cooking.
See also: 囲炉裏
古い民家には地炉が残っている。
An old private house still has a sunken hearth.
地炉を囲んで暖を取った。
We gathered around the sunken hearth to warm ourselves.
囲炉裏 is a more common term for a traditional Japanese sunken hearth, often found in old farmhouses. 地炉 is a less frequent synonym, sometimes used in architectural or historical contexts.
Compound of 地 (chi/ji, 'ground') and 炉 (ro, 'hearth'). The reading じろ is the more common on'yomi combination; ちろ is a less common variant.