水心あれば魚心 みずごころあればうおごころ Meanings Expression kindness begets kindness; you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours (literally: if the water is kind to the fish, the fish will be kind to the water) See also: 魚心あれば水心 (うおごころあればみずごころ). Kanji 水 water. Read as みず. 心 heart. Read as こころ. 魚 fish. Read as うお. Word lists Proverbs Jinuma: Japanese Dictionary · Word lists