How to Read “水心あれば魚心”
Mizugokoro areba uogokoro
Meaning of “水心あれば魚心”
“If there is water heart, then fish heart” is a proverb meaning that if you show sincerity and compassion toward others, they will respond with the same sincerity.
This proverb teaches the importance of reciprocity in human relationships. Just as water is a necessary environment for fish to live, when we show consideration and kindness to others, they will also develop favorable feelings toward us.
It is commonly used as advice for people struggling with relationships or when explaining the importance of teamwork. It is also used in business and negotiations to express the importance of first considering the other party’s position.
The reason for using this expression is that it can concisely convey the principles of complex human relationships through an easy-to-understand example from nature. Even today, it is understood as universal wisdom applicable to all situations, including workplace relationships, friendships, and family relationships. It represents practical life wisdom that shows the importance of reviewing one’s own attitude and behavior before trying to change others.
Origin and Etymology
“If there is water heart, then fish heart” originates from a proverb expressing the wisdom of mutual relationships that has been passed down in Japan since ancient times. This proverb uses the intimate relationship between water and fish in nature as a metaphor, and its formation reflects the depth of Japanese people’s natural observation skills.
The relationship between water and fish is a perfect example of mutual dependence. Water is an indispensable environment for fish to live, and fish are also important elements that constitute the water ecosystem. Since ancient times, Japanese people must have noticed the beauty of this mutual relationship while observing fish in rivers and ponds.
This proverb is said to have appeared in literature around the Edo period and is thought to have been used among merchants and craftsmen. It may have been wisdom born from actual experiences in commercial transactions, where consideration and care for others would return to oneself.
The fact that the word “heart” is used twice is also an interesting point. It emphasizes that not mere actions, but “heart” – meaning sincerity and compassionate feelings – is important. This contains deep insight into Japanese views on human relationships, that true mutual relationships are built through heart-to-heart communication rather than superficial relationships.
Usage Examples
- In my new workplace, with the spirit of “If there is water heart, then fish heart,” I decided to actively greet people first
- The reason my relationship with him isn’t going well might be because, as they say “If there is water heart, then fish heart,” I too lacked consideration
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, “If there is water heart, then fish heart” has taken on more important meaning amid increasingly digitized human relationships. With SNS and messaging apps becoming mainstream for communication, we need to more consciously show consideration since we cannot see the other person’s facial expressions or hear their tone of voice.
In online relationships, small actions like “likes,” comments, and response speed are conveyed to others as “water heart.” By showing empathy for others’ posts or offering supportive words when they’re in trouble, we can receive similar consideration from them.
The value of this proverb has also increased in the business world. With the spread of remote work and fewer opportunities for face-to-face meetings, consideration for team members and proactive communication have become more important. Regular check-ins and messages showing concern for others’ situations serve as “water heart” that builds good workplace relationships.
However, there are also challenges unique to modern times. In an age of information overload, there’s a tendency for consideration toward others to become one-sided or to expect too much in return. True “If there is water heart, then fish heart” comes from natural compassion, not calculated behavior. Precisely because we live in modern times, we need to reconsider the essential meaning of this proverb and apply it to human relationships in the digital age.
When AI Hears This
When you observe the inside of an aquarium, you can see a perfect circulation system where fish swimming creates water flow, fish waste becomes nutrients for plants, and plants produce oxygen. In other words, water doesn’t simply “support” the fish—the fish also “create” the water environment.
This mutual relationship applies to relationships we usually categorize as “dominant versus subordinate.” For example, we tend to think that bosses guide their subordinates at work, but in reality, a boss’s evaluation only becomes meaningful through their subordinates’ achievements. It appears that parents raise their children, yet it’s the children’s existence that helps parents grow.
What’s fascinating is that this “reversal phenomenon” has been proven biologically as well. According to research by ichthyologists, bodies of water without fish tend to suffer from disrupted microbial balance and deteriorating water quality. The very presence of fish is essential for maintaining a stable aquatic environment.
The true insight of this proverb is to question the one-directional view of “who is primary and who is secondary.” Real relationships form a circular structure where each side supports the other, much like water and fish. When you realize that the side you thought was stronger is actually sustained by what you considered the weaker side, your perspective on human relationships changes completely.
Lessons for Today
“If there is water heart, then fish heart” teaches modern people that the foundation of human relationships is the attitude of “taking the first step yourself.” Rather than keeping distance with excuses like “because the other person is cold” or “because they seem busy,” it teaches the importance of having the courage to reach out first.
In modern society, efficiency and rationality tend to be emphasized, but in human relationships, “compassion without calculating gains and losses” becomes the most effective investment. Extending a helping hand to a colleague in trouble at work, listening to family members until the end, noticing small changes in friends and calling out to them. The accumulation of such small acts of “water heart” nurtures rich human relationships, which is the “fish heart.”
What’s particularly noteworthy is that this proverb shows the importance of “pure compassion that doesn’t seek rewards.” By acting from natural kindness rather than calculated kindness, the other person’s heart is naturally moved.
In our busy daily lives, we tend to think only about ourselves, but by changing our perspective slightly and putting ourselves in the other person’s position – such small mindfulness should be the first step in warmly transforming the human relationships around you.
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