Chinese Zodiac Compatibility Chart: All 78 Matches

Chinese zodiac compatibility compares the Earthly Branches behind two birth-year animal signs. This complete chart covers all 78 unique pairings, including the 66 combinations between different signs and the 12 same-sign pairings. It distinguishes Six Harmonies, Three Harmonies, clashes, harms, punishments, breaks, and neutral pairings instead of reducing every match to “good” or “bad.”

Use the chart as a guide to traditional Chinese relationship symbolism. It does not measure love, predict marriage, or replace what you know about a person’s conduct, values, and communication.

Find Your Correct Chinese Zodiac Sign First

The Lunar New Year Boundary

A zodiac year does not change on January 1. For ordinary animal-year identification, this guide follows the widely used Chinese New Year boundary. Someone born before Chinese New Year in January or February normally belongs to the preceding zodiac year. The Hong Kong Observatory publishes Gregorian–lunar conversion tables for 1901 through 2100, making it possible to verify the boundary for a specific birth year.^[1]

If your birthday falls near the changeover, use the Chinese Zodiac Calculator rather than relying on a Gregorian year alone.

Lunar New Year vs. Start of Spring

Popular zodiac use and Lunar New Year customs generally change the animal year at Chinese New Year. Some Four Pillars of Destiny traditions instead use Lichun (立春), the Start of Spring, when assigning the year pillar. These are different conventions used for different purposes. This compatibility chart follows Chinese New Year throughout; it is not a Four Pillars marriage analysis.

Complete Chinese Zodiac Compatibility Chart

How to Read the 78-Pair Chart

Twelve signs produce 66 different-sign combinations plus 12 same-sign combinations, for 78 unique unordered pairs. Rat–Ox and Ox–Rat are the same pairing, so the matrix is symmetrical. The table uses words rather than color alone and displays every recognized relationship in a cell.

For mixed cells, the labels are ordered for quick reading as Clash, Punishment, Six Harmonies, Three Harmonies, Harm, and Break. This is an editorial display order, not a scientific severity scale. Classical texts also warn against treating a punishment or clash as automatically harmful without considering the wider configuration.^[3]

All 78 Zodiac Pairings

Find the first sign in the left column and the second sign across the top. “Neutral” means that the pair has none of the listed special branch relationships; it does not mean that the people will feel identical or automatically get along.

The Traditional Logic Behind the Chart

Six Harmonies and Three Harmonies

Six Harmonies (六合) consists of six paired branches. It is the clearest one-to-one supportive category in popular zodiac matching. Three Harmonies (三合) consists of four groups of three branches associated with Water, Wood, Fire, and Metal. Every two members of a Three Harmonies group receive that label in this chart, but the original structure is a three-branch group rather than a claim that every pair is an ideal marriage.^[4][5]

These categories are traditional symbolic structures, not compatibility scores. A Six Harmonies pair may still have a secondary label: Tiger and Pig also form a Break, while Snake and Monkey combine Six Harmonies with Punishment and Break. Context matters more than a single favorable word.

Clash, Harm, Punishment, and Break

The four challenging categories describe different patterns. A Clash is a direct opposition. Harm is traditionally more indirect. Punishment covers recurring or internally generated pressure, while Break suggests disruption or weakening. The classical punishment system includes Tiger–Snake–Monkey, Ox–Dog–Goat, Rat–Rabbit, and the Self-Punishments of Dragon, Horse, Rooster, and Pig.^[3] Break is a separate six-pair system.^[5]

None of these labels has an automatic outcome. Even the classical discussion of punishment says it should not be declared harmful without considering the larger arrangement. A year-sign chart removes that larger context, so its conclusions must remain limited.

Best and Challenging Matches for Each Zodiac Sign

The following summaries translate the matrix into a sign-by-sign lookup. “Best” refers to Six Harmonies and Three Harmonies, while “challenging” covers Clash, Harm, Punishment, and Break. Mixed pairs retain every relevant label.

Rat Compatibility

For the Rat, Ox is the Six Harmonies partner, while Dragon and Monkey share the Water Three Harmonies group. The direct Clash is Horse. Goat forms Harm, Rabbit forms Punishment, and Rooster forms Break. This range matters because a chart that lists only “best” and “worst” will usually omit Rabbit and Rooster. In practice, use the categories to identify the kind of conversation needed: direct negotiation with a Clash, fewer assumptions with Harm, and more consistency with Break.

Ox Compatibility

For the Ox, Rat is the Six Harmonies partner, and Snake and Rooster complete the Metal Three Harmonies group. Goat is both a Clash and a Punishment, making it a composite pairing rather than a single-label match. Horse forms Harm, Dragon forms Break, and Dog belongs to the Ox–Dog–Goat punishment group. Neutral combinations have no special relationship in this model; they should not be treated as weaker than every labeled pairing.

Tiger Compatibility

For the Tiger, Pig forms Six Harmonies, while Horse and Dog share the Fire Three Harmonies group. The Tiger–Pig pair also carries a Break label, so even a traditionally supportive pair can be mixed. Monkey forms both Clash and Punishment. Snake forms Punishment and Harm. These overlaps are a strong reason to avoid compatibility percentages: a single number cannot show that one pair contains both supportive and challenging branch relationships.

Rabbit Compatibility

For the Rabbit, Dog is the Six Harmonies partner, and Goat and Pig share the Wood Three Harmonies group. Rooster is the direct Clash, Dragon forms Harm, Rat forms Punishment, and Horse forms Break. The categories point to different concerns rather than different levels of doom. A Rabbit–Rooster pair may notice open disagreement, while a Rabbit–Dragon pair may need to address subtler misunderstandings before they accumulate.

Dragon Compatibility

For the Dragon, Rooster is the Six Harmonies partner, and Rat and Monkey share the Water Three Harmonies group. Dog is the direct Clash, Rabbit forms Harm, and Ox forms Break. Two Dragons receive the neutral label plus Self-Punishment. Self-Punishment is traditional terminology for a repeated branch, not proof that two Dragon people will damage each other. At the year-sign level, it is best read as a caution against reinforcing the same pressure pattern.

Snake Compatibility

For the Snake, Monkey is the Six Harmonies partner, while Ox and Rooster share the Metal Three Harmonies group. Yet Snake–Monkey also carries Punishment and Break, making it the most obvious mixed pairing in the chart. Pig is the direct Clash, and Tiger combines Punishment with Harm. A result that calls Monkey simply “perfect” or Tiger simply “worst” hides the layered structure. Real interpretation requires both labels and the wider relationship context.

Horse Compatibility

For the Horse, Goat is the Six Harmonies partner, while Tiger and Dog share the Fire Three Harmonies group. Rat is the direct Clash, Ox forms Harm, and Rabbit forms Break. Two Horses receive neutral plus Self-Punishment. This does not predict conflict between same-sign partners; it marks the repeated Horse branch within the traditional punishment scheme. Shared routines and clear room for individual decisions are more useful than treating the label as a verdict.

Goat Compatibility

For the Goat, Horse is the Six Harmonies partner, while Rabbit and Pig share the Wood Three Harmonies group. Ox combines Clash with Punishment. Rat forms Harm, and Dog combines Punishment with Break. Goat is the standard English name used on this site; Sheep and Ram are common regional alternatives for the same animal branch. In a challenging pairing, separate direct disputes from indirect tension instead of treating every problem as one general incompatibility.

Monkey Compatibility

For the Monkey, Snake forms Six Harmonies, while Rat and Dragon share the Water Three Harmonies group. Snake also forms Punishment and Break, so the pair is structurally mixed. Tiger combines Clash with Punishment, and Pig forms Harm. The Monkey–Pig relationship is not a Break in the six-pair system. This correction matters because moving one label changes both rows of a symmetrical chart and can create dozens of inconsistent calculator results.

Rooster Compatibility

For the Rooster, Dragon is the Six Harmonies partner, while Ox and Snake share the Metal Three Harmonies group. Rabbit is the direct Clash, Dog forms Harm, and Rat forms Break. Two Roosters receive neutral plus Self-Punishment. The same-sign label should prompt reflection on repeated expectations, not a claim that two Roosters are inherently incompatible. A neutral result also remains open: it simply lacks one of the specific branch patterns tracked here.

Dog Compatibility

For the Dog, Rabbit is the Six Harmonies partner, while Tiger and Horse share the Fire Three Harmonies group. Dragon is the direct Clash, Rooster forms Harm, Ox forms Punishment, and Goat combines Punishment with Break. Because Ox, Dog, and Goat form a punishment group, a complete chart must include all three pairwise combinations when it is used as a symmetrical two-sign lookup. This is separate from saying that the full three-branch configuration is present in two birth-year signs.

Pig Compatibility

For the Pig, Tiger forms Six Harmonies, while Rabbit and Goat share the Wood Three Harmonies group. Tiger also forms Break, making the pair mixed. Snake is the direct Clash, Monkey forms Harm, and two Pigs receive neutral plus Self-Punishment. The mixed Tiger pairing shows why “best match” should mean traditional support, not guaranteed ease. It can contain a supportive structure and a caution about maintaining stability at the same time.

Why Chinese Zodiac Compatibility Charts Disagree

Two charts can disagree even when both use traditional terms. The difference often comes from what their authors choose to include and how they collapse layered relationships.

• Six Harmonies only: Some charts list only the six one-to-one combinations as best matches.
• Six and Three Harmonies combined: Others place every pair from a Three Harmonies group in the same top category as Six Harmonies.
• Clashes only: Simplified charts use the six direct Clashes as the entire “worst match” list and omit Harm, Punishment, and Break.
• Different punishment rules: Some sources require the full three-branch configuration, while pairwise compatibility charts label each pair within the punishment groups.
• Mixed relationships hidden: Snake–Monkey may be shown only as Six Harmonies, even though the classical branch framework also associates it with Punishment and Break.
• Personality-based additions: Modern articles sometimes add matches based on generalized animal traits rather than a defined Earthly Branch relationship.

This chart uses a transparent rule set: it preserves every applicable Six Harmonies, Three Harmonies, Clash, Harm, Punishment, and Break label, while marking all remaining pairs as neutral. It is one consistent reference model, not a claim that every lineage or practitioner must classify compatibility in exactly the same way.

Does Compatibility Change for Love, Friendship, Family, and Work?

The branch labels do not change with the relationship, but the place where differences appear can change. The same Clash may affect domestic routines in a marriage and decision authority in a business partnership.

Three Harmonies may be especially easy to discuss in teams because the original model is a three-branch structure. That does not make a Three Harmonies pair ordinary in romance, nor does it prove that three people from the group will form a successful company. The context changes the practical question, not the traditional label.

Can Challenging Zodiac Matches Still Work?

Yes. A challenging zodiac match can support a lasting marriage, friendship, family bond, or business relationship. Clash, Harm, Punishment, and Break describe symbolic areas of friction; they do not prove that a specific problem will occur.

• Name the actual difference: Replace “our signs clash” with the real issue, such as spending, time, family boundaries, or decision authority.
• Use a cooling-off rule: Pause an escalating argument and agree on a specific time to resume it, rather than leaving the issue unresolved.
• Separate responsibilities: Give each person clear ownership where joint control repeatedly creates conflict.
• Build a shared plan: Long-term goals are useful only when responsibilities, timelines, and trade-offs are also clear.
• Judge conduct: Reliability, respect, honesty, and the ability to repair conflict tell you more than a birth-year label.

Traditional language sometimes associates a clash with movement or change. That can be a useful metaphor for a dynamic relationship, but it should not be turned into a promise that conflict will create success.

What a Birth-Year Compatibility Chart Cannot Tell You

The Five Elements Add Another Layer

The same animal returns every 12 years, but the complete stem–branch pair returns every 60 years. A 1990 Geng-Wu Metal Horse and a 2026 Bing-Wu Fire Horse share the Horse branch but have different Heavenly Stems. The year element can add another traditional symbolic layer, yet it does not erase the underlying Horse branch or produce a complete compatibility reading.^[6]

For the wider generating and overcoming system, read the guide to Wuxing and the Five Elements. This page does not combine all 60 stem–branch years or Na Yin types into a marriage score.

Full Four Pillars Compatibility Is More Complex

A birth-year animal represents only the year branch. Four Pillars of Destiny uses year, month, day, and hour pillars, producing eight stem-and-branch characters commonly called BaZi. A full reading may also consider seasonal strength, element balance, and relationships across several branches. The underlying 60-part counting system is explained in the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches guide.

That complexity is also why this page does not claim to predict marriage, business success, health, or major life events. Anyone seeking a traditional full-chart reading should ask the practitioner which calendar boundary and interpretive school are being used.

Frequently Asked Questions About Chinese Zodiac Compatibility

Which Chinese zodiac signs are most compatible?

The six traditional one-to-one Six Harmonies pairs are Rat–Ox, Tiger–Pig, Rabbit–Dog, Dragon–Rooster, Snake–Monkey, and Horse–Goat. Three Harmonies adds four supportive groups. These labels indicate traditional branch relationships, not guaranteed romantic success.

What are the six Chinese zodiac clash pairs?

The six Zodiac Clash pairs are Rat–Horse, Ox–Goat, Tiger–Monkey, Rabbit–Rooster, Dragon–Dog, and Snake–Pig. A clash symbolizes direct opposition, but it does not mean that the relationship cannot work.

What if two people have the same zodiac sign?

Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Snake, Goat, Monkey, and Dog same-sign pairings are neutral in this chart. Dragon, Horse, Rooster, and Pig are marked neutral plus Self-Punishment under the classical branch system. This is a symbolic classification, not a prediction of self-sabotage.

Can a clash pair have a successful marriage?

Yes. A clash identifies a traditional area of contrast, not an unavoidable outcome. Shared values, honest communication, reliable behavior, and the ability to resolve disagreement are more important to a marriage than a birth-year pairing.

Is Chinese zodiac compatibility only for romantic relationships?

No. People also apply it to friendship, family, teamwork, and business partnerships. The branch relationship stays the same, but its practical expression may differ across intimacy, household roles, authority, and shared responsibilities.

Do the Five Elements change zodiac compatibility?

The Heavenly Stem and its element add another traditional layer, but they do not change the basic Earthly Branch relationship shown in this chart. A full element analysis is more complex than adding or subtracting points from a zodiac match.

Why does my compatibility result differ on another website?

Websites may include different relationship types, treat Three Harmonies differently, apply different punishment rules, omit mixed labels, or add personality-based matches. Compare the stated method rather than assuming one unexplained result is universal.

Which zodiac sign should January or February birthdays use?

For this chart, use the animal year beginning at Chinese New Year. If your birthday falls before that year’s Chinese New Year, use the preceding animal. Some Four Pillars systems use Lichun instead, so check the convention before comparing results.

Final Takeaway

The most useful Chinese zodiac compatibility chart is not the one that gives the strongest verdict. It is the one that shows its rules. Six Harmonies and Three Harmonies represent traditional support; Clash, Harm, Punishment, and Break identify different kinds of symbolic friction; neutral pairs have no special relationship in this model.

Use the checker and matrix to understand the traditional structure, then return to the relationship itself. Communication, values, responsibility, and daily conduct—not an animal sign—determine whether people can build trust and work through differences.

Sources

1. Hong Kong Observatory, Gregorian–Lunar Calendar Conversion Table.
2. Hong Kong Observatory, The 12-Year Animal Cycle.
3. Wan Minying, San Ming Tong Hui (三命通会), Volume 2.
4. Wikisource, Yi Xue Xiang Shu Lun (易学象数论), “Seeking the Harmony Branch”.
5. Wikisource, Liuren Daquan (六壬大全), Volume 1, Three Harmonies and branch break relationships.
6. David K. Jordan, University of California San Diego, The Chinese System of Heaven Stems and Earth Branches.