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