水みず心ごころあれば魚うお心ごころ

expression

kindness begets kindness; you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours

Proverb meaning that if you show goodwill to others, they will respond in kind. Often used to describe reciprocal relationships. The literal meaning is 'if the water has a mind for the fish, the fish will have a mind for the water'.

See also: 魚心あれば水心

• 水みず心ごころあれば魚うお心ごころで、彼かれが親しん切せつにしてくれたから私わたしも手伝てつだった。

  Kindness begets kindness: since he was kind to me, I helped him in return.

• ビジネスでは水みず心ごころあれば魚うお心ごころの精せい神しんが大たい切せつだ。

  In business, the spirit of mutual give-and-take is important.