Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
滅私奉公 (めっしほうこう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
noun
selfless devotion to public duty
yojijukugo (four-character idiom)
A yojijukugo expressing the ideal of sacrificing one's personal interests for the sake of the public good or one's organization. Often used in contexts of loyalty, public service, or corporate dedication.
Public servants are expected to have an attitude of selfless dedication to the public.
Kanji 滅 destroy, ruin, overthrow 奉 observance, offer, present 公 public, prince, official Similar words 滅めっ 私し 滅私 means 'selflessness' or 'self-sacrifice' on its own, but is rarely used independently; 滅私奉公 is the full idiomatic expression.
奉ほう 公こう 奉公 historically refers to service or apprenticeship, often in a domestic or feudal context; in 滅私奉公 it takes the broader meaning of public service.
Etymology A yojijukugo composed of 滅 (destroy, extinguish), 私 (self, private), 奉 (offer, serve), and 公 (public). The phrase encapsulates the Confucian-influenced ideal of subordinating personal desires to the needs of the state or community.
