奉仕

• 読み: ほうし
• ローマ字: hōshi
• 漢字の分解: 奉 (hō/tatematsuru) — offer respectfully, serve; 仕 (shi/tsu) — serve, work for
• 発音: /ho.ː.ɕi/

意味

Service; volunteer work; dedication. Describes selfless service to others, a cause, or an institution, often without expectation of reward.

Used as a verbal noun with する (奉仕する). 奉仕 carries a connotation of selfless dedication, often with a sense of duty or devotion. Common in contexts of community service, religious service, and discounted pricing (奉仕価格, a service price offered as a gesture). More formal and elevated than 手伝い (helping out), suggesting a sustained, principled commitment.

例文

1. 彼女は長年、地域の子どもたちのために無償で奉仕し続けてきた。
2. 社会奉仕の精神は、この学校の教育理念の根幹をなしている。
3. 宗教的な信念から奉仕活動に身を捧げる人たちが世界中にいる。

使い方ガイド

場面: community service, religion, social welfare, business

トーン: positive

起源と歴史

Compound of 奉 (hō, offer respectfully, serve) and 仕 (shi, serve, work for). Together they describe the act of respectfully placing oneself in service to another — originally in relation to deities or rulers, extended to general selfless service.

文化的背景

時代: Traditional-Modern

世代: Adults

社会的背景: Universal