noun
self-deprecating term; humble self-reference
A term used to refer to oneself, one's abilities, or one's possessions in a humble or self-deprecating manner. Common in formal or polite contexts.
「弊社」は自社を指す謙称です。
"Heisha" is a humble term for one's own company.
謙称を使うことで、相手への敬意を表します。
Using humble self-reference shows respect to the other party.
From 謙 (けん, 'humble') + 称 (しょう, 'name' or 'designation'). The term is a Sino-Japanese compound used to describe humble self-reference terms.