犬けん馬ば

noun

dogs and horses; humble self

Literary compound used in classical or formal contexts. The literal meaning 'dogs and horses' is rare in modern Japanese; the humble self-reference usage is archaic and highly formal, appearing mainly in old letters or set phrases.

• 古ふるい手て紙がみでは、自じ分ぶんのことを「犬けん馬ば」とへりくだって書かくことがあった。

  In old letters, people sometimes humbly referred to themselves as 'dogs and horses'.