self-effacing; selfless
Describes a person or attitude that puts others first and does not seek personal recognition. Often used in formal or literary contexts.
I was moved by his selfless actions.
Participate in volunteer work with a self-effacing spirit.
Compound of 没 (ぼつ, 'to sink, to lose oneself') + 我 (が, 'self, ego') + 的 (てき, adjectival suffix). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word follows a common pattern for forming adjectival nouns from Sino-Japanese roots.