Kanji 無 nothingness, none, ain't 欲 longing, covetousness, greed Related words 無む 欲よく 無欲 means 'unselfish' or 'free from greed', but 無私無欲 emphasizes both the absence of selfishness (私 ) and desire (欲 ).
滅めっ 私し 奉ほう 公こう 滅私奉公 means 'selfless devotion to public duty', often with a nuance of sacrificing oneself for the nation or organization, while 無私無欲 is a broader term for personal selflessness.
Etymology A yojijukugo composed of 無 (without) + 私 (self) + 無 (without) + 欲 (desire). The exact historical origin is uncertain, but it follows a common four-character pattern for expressing moral ideals.
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