Chinese Zodiac Compatibility: All 78 Pairs Ranked & Scored
The Chinese zodiac compatibility system analyzes how well two signs match in love, friendship, and business. With 12 animals forming 78 unique pairs, each combination has its own dynamic — backed by 2,000+ years of Earthly Branches theory.
Quick Answer: Chinese zodiac compatibility is determined by the relationships between the twelve Earthly Branches (地支). Of the 78 unique sign pairs, 6 are “Secret Friends” (六合 Six Harmonies) scoring 90+, 24 are “Trine Allies” (三合 Three Harmonies) scoring 82+, 6 are “Zodiac Clashes” (六冲 Six Clashes) scoring under 40, and 6 carry “Hidden Tension” (六害 Six Harms). The remaining pairs fall in moderate territory. Use the checker below for instant results, or explore the full 78-pair matrix further down.
How We Score Compatibility
Every pair in our matrix receives a score from 0 to 100 based on the classical Chinese astrological framework. Our scoring system combines four layers of analysis, each grounded in texts that have guided Chinese families for over two millennia. The twelve animal signs correspond to the twelve Earthly Branches (地支), whose interaction patterns form the basis of all compatibility readings.
The Four Scoring Layers
| Layer | Classical Source | Score Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Six Harmonies (六合 Liu He) \u2014 Secret Friends | One-to-one celestial pairings | 90–95 |
| Three Harmonies (三合 San He) \u2014 Trine Allies | Trine alliances (4 groups of 3) | 82–88 |
| Neutral Pairs | No special branch relationship | 50–62 |
| Six Harms (六害 Liu Hai) | Subtle, persistent friction | 38–45 |
| Six Clashes (六冲 Liu Chong) | Direct oppositional energy | 28–35 |
Important: A low score is not a verdict. It means the pair has specific friction points that require more conscious effort. Real relationships of every type exist across every score range.
“The six harmonies (六合) are the celestial secret friends. When rat meets ox, Water and Earth merge into a single current; when tiger meets pig, Water nourishes Wood and its energy doubles. These pairs are the foundation of all compatibility readings.”
\u2014 San Ming Tong Hui (\u4e09\u547d\u901a\u4f1a), compiled by Wan Min Ying (\u4e07\u6c11\u82f1), Ming Dynasty. One of the most comprehensive encyclopedias of Chinese astrological theory, covering BaZi, branch relationships, and compatibility. See Wikipedia: Sexagenary cycle for the 60-pair cycle underlying all branch combinations.
Reviewed by Mei Lin Chen, BaZi Practitioner & Cultural Translator with 15+ years of family-lineage study. Our scoring framework draws on classical sources including San Ming Tong Hui (三命通会), Yuan Hai Zi Ping (渊海子平), and Di Tian Sui (滴天髓). Learn about our editorial process →
Complete Compatibility Matrix — All 78 Pairs
Click any cell to read the full compatibility analysis for that pair. Scores range from 28 (most challenging) to 95 (most harmonious).
| 🐀 Rat | 🐂 Ox | 🐅 Tig | 🐇 Rab | 🐉 Dra | 🐍 Sna | 🐎 Hor | 🐐 Goa | 🐒 Mon | 🐓 Roo | 🐕 Dog | 🐖 Pig | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🐀 Rat | 76 | 94 | 70 | 70 | 88 | 68 | 38 | 52 | 89 | 70 | 68 | 68 |
| 🐂 Ox | 85 | 68 | 68 | 68 | 89 | 54 | 38 | 70 | 89 | 68 | 68 | |
| 🐅 Tige | 85 | 68 | 68 | 54 | 89 | 68 | 38 | 68 | 88 | 95 | ||
| 🐇 Rabb | 85 | 52 | 70 | 70 | 88 | 68 | 38 | 94 | 89 | |||
| 🐉 Drag | 85 | 70 | 70 | 68 | 89 | 95 | 38 | 68 | ||||
| 🐍 Snak | 85 | 68 | 70 | 94 | 88 | 70 | 38 | |||||
| 🐎 Hors | 85 | 95 | 68 | 68 | 89 | 68 | ||||||
| 🐐 Goat | 85 | 70 | 70 | 68 | 88 | |||||||
| 🐒 Monk | 85 | 68 | 70 | 54 | ||||||||
| 🐓 Roos | 85 | 54 | 70 | |||||||||
| 🐕 Dog | 85 | 68 | ||||||||||
| 🐖 Pig | 85 |
Click any score to read the full pair analysis. Same-sign pairs (diagonal) shown as reference.
Best Matches (Score 85+)
These pairings represent the strongest natural alignments in Chinese zodiac compatibility. They include both Six Harmony (六合) pairs — the six celestial “secret friend” combinations — and Three Harmony (三合) trine allies.
Challenging Pairs (Score Below 50)
These twelve pairs carry the heaviest friction in the zodiac — six Six Clash (六冲) pairs and six Six Harm (六害) pairs. A challenging score does not mean the relationship is doomed; it means the pair will need to navigate specific, predictable friction points. Many successful partnerships exist between clashing signs.
Understanding Compatibility Dimensions
Each compatibility pair page analyzes three dimensions of the relationship:
- Love & Romance — Emotional connection, intimacy potential, and long-term romantic prospects. High-scoring pairs tend to share complementary emotional rhythms, while lower-scoring pairs may need to consciously bridge different intimacy languages.
- Friendship — How naturally the two signs get along as friends, shared interests, and mutual support. Trine allies often form instant friendships; clash pairs may become close friends only after working through initial friction.
- Work & Business — Professional synergy, division of labor, and partnership potential. Some pairs that are moderate in romance excel in business (complementary skills), while others that sizzle romantically may struggle with shared finances.
The Four Relationship Frameworks
Chinese zodiac compatibility is determined by four interacting frameworks rooted in the Earthly Branches (地支). These frameworks are not modern inventions \u2014 they originate from the sexagenary cycle system formalized during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE \u2013 220 CE), which pairs each of the twelve branches with one of ten heavenly stems:
Six Harmonies (六合 Liu He) — Secret Friends
Six one-to-one pairings with exceptional natural chemistry. Each pair combines complementary energies that create balance. The concept of Six Harmonies is rooted in the Earthly Branches system, where each of the twelve branches forms exactly one celestial pairing:
“Zi and Chou combine into earth. Yin and Hai combine into wood. Mao and Xu combine into fire. Chen and You combine into metal. Si and Shen combine into water. Wu and Wei combine into the sun and moon.”
\u2014 Yuan Hai Zi Ping (\u6e0a\u6d77\u5b50\u5e73), by Xu Dashou, Song Dynasty. A foundational text of BaZi theory that first codified the transformation rules for Earthly Branch combinations. The Chinese zodiac assigns each branch an animal sign.
| 🐀 Rat + 🐂 Ox | 🐅 Tiger + 🐖 Pig |
| 🐇 Rabbit + 🐕 Dog | 🐉 Dragon + 🐓 Rooster |
| 🐍 Snake + 🐒 Monkey | 🐎 Horse + 🐐 Goat |
Learn more about Six Harmonies →
Three Harmonies (三合 San He) — Trine Allies
Four groups of three signs that form natural alliances. Members of the same trine tend to understand each other instinctively:
- Water Trine: Monkey, Rat, Dragon
- Metal Trine: Snake, Ox, Rooster
- Fire Trine: Tiger, Horse, Dog
- Wood Trine: Pig, Rabbit, Goat
Learn more about Three Harmonies →
Six Clashes (六冲 Liu Chong) — Direct Opposition
Six pairs that sit directly opposite each other on the zodiac wheel, creating dynamic tension:
| 🐀 Rat ↔ 🐎 Horse | 🐂 Ox ↔ 🐐 Goat |
| 🐅 Tiger ↔ 🐒 Monkey | 🐇 Rabbit ↔ 🐓 Rooster |
| 🐉 Dragon ↔ 🐕 Dog | 🐍 Snake ↔ 🐖 Pig |
Clashes create productive friction — not impossibility. Learn more about Six Clashes →
Six Harms (六害 Liu Hai) — Subtle Friction
Less visible than clashes but equally important. These pairs experience a quality of misunderstanding or misaligned effort — situations where both parties mean well but somehow work against each other:
| 🐀 Rat ↔ 🐐 Goat | 🐂 Ox ↔ 🐎 Horse |
| 🐅 Tiger ↔ 🐍 Snake | 🐇 Rabbit ↔ 🐉 Dragon |
| 🐒 Monkey ↔ 🐖 Pig | 🐓 Rooster ↔ 🐕 Dog |
Beyond the Animal Signs: Elements and BaZi
While the animal compatibility matrix is the most accessible layer, serious relationship analysis in Chinese astrology goes deeper. Each person’s Five Element profile (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) adds crucial nuance \u2014 a Fire Horse and a Water Rat may clash more intensely than their animal signs alone suggest, because Fire and Water are elemental opposites.
“The Day Master is the root of the self. To judge marriage and partnership, one must examine not the year branch alone, but the Day Master’s relationship to the spouse palace. Two people whose Day Masters generate each other will find harmony even if their animal signs clash.”
\u2014 Di Tian Sui (\u6ef4\u5929\u968b), attributed to Liu Bo Wen, Ming Dynasty. A classical commentary on BaZi analysis that elevated Day Master theory. This principle explains why our animal-sign matrix is a starting point \u2014 for complete analysis, cast your full BaZi (Four Pillars) chart.
For the most accurate compatibility reading, both partners should cast their full BaZi charts. The Day Master (日主) — the stem of your birth day — reveals your core self and is far more precise for relationship analysis than the year sign alone.
About This Calculator
This Chinese zodiac compatibility calculator computes scores for all 78 unique pairs of the 12 animal signs using the classical Earthly Branch interaction framework. Scores are assigned based on four layers: Six Harmonies (score 90-95), Three Harmonies (score 82-88), neutral pairs (score 50-62), Six Harms (score 38-45), and Six Clashes (score 28-35). Each pair links to a detailed analysis page. For the full methodology, see our complete compatibility methodology guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the Chinese zodiac compatibility score calculated?
Our scoring system uses the classical Earthly Branch relationship framework. Six Harmony (六合) pairs score 90–95, Three Harmony (三合) pairs score 82–88, neutral pairs score 50–62, Six Harm (六害) pairs score 38–45, and Six Clash (六冲) pairs score 28–35. Each score is reviewed against classical sources including San Ming Tong Hui and Yuan Hai Zi Ping.
What is the highest compatibility score in Chinese zodiac?
The highest possible score is 95, achieved by the six Six Harmony (六合) pairs: Rat-Ox, Tiger-Pig, Rabbit-Dog, Dragon-Rooster, Snake-Monkey, and Horse-Goat. These are considered the most naturally harmonious pairings in the entire zodiac system.
What is the lowest compatibility score?
The lowest scores are 28–35, assigned to the six Six Clash (六冲) pairs: Rat-Horse, Ox-Goat, Tiger-Monkey, Rabbit-Rooster, Dragon-Dog, and Snake-Pig. However, a low score does not mean the relationship is impossible — it identifies specific friction points that require conscious effort to navigate.
Can clashing zodiac signs have a successful relationship?
Yes. A clash score simply flags areas where the two signs have naturally opposing energies. Many successful marriages exist between clashing signs. The key is awareness: when both partners understand their friction points, they can consciously choose how to respond rather than reacting on autopilot.
What is the difference between Six Clashes and Six Harms?
Six Clashes (六冲) are direct oppositions — the two signs sit across from each other on the zodiac wheel, creating overt conflict. Six Harms (六害) are subtler: the two signs don’t directly oppose each other, but their interaction produces persistent low-grade friction, often manifesting as misunderstandings or misaligned efforts.
Does the Chinese zodiac element affect compatibility scores?
The base scores on this matrix reflect animal-sign (Earthly Branch) relationships only. However, each person’s Five Element profile (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) adds an important layer. A full BaZi chart reading examines how the elements of both partners interact, which can raise or lower the effective compatibility.
Is Chinese zodiac compatibility accurate for marriage?
Chinese zodiac compatibility has cultural and observational value spanning over 2,000 years, but it is not a scientific predictor of marriage outcomes. It is best used as a tool for self-awareness and understanding relationship dynamics. For marriage decisions, personality compatibility, shared values, communication skills, and mutual commitment matter far more than zodiac scores.
How many zodiac compatibility pairs are there in total?
With 12 zodiac animals, there are 78 unique pairs: 66 cross-sign combinations (12 choose 2) plus 12 same-sign pairs. Our matrix covers all 78. Each pair has its own dedicated analysis page accessible by clicking any cell in the matrix.
What does a ‘neutral’ compatibility score mean?
A neutral score (50–62) means the two signs have no special branch relationship — they are neither natural allies nor natural opponents. These pairings are entirely workable. Their success depends less on zodiac dynamics and more on individual personality, shared values, and the effort both partners invest.
Should I use compatibility scores to choose a partner?
No. Compatibility scores are designed for self-awareness and understanding, not partner selection. Using zodiac scores to filter potential partners would mean missing out on excellent matches who simply happen to have a moderate or challenging animal pairing. The best use of compatibility analysis is within an existing relationship — as a conversation starter and a lens for understanding each other.
Which zodiac signs are most compatible with each other?
The most compatible pairs are the Six Harmony (六合) combinations: Rat-Ox, Tiger-Pig, Rabbit-Dog, Dragon-Rooster, Snake-Monkey, and Horse-Goat. Each scores 94–95 out of 100. These pairings are considered the gold standard of Chinese zodiac compatibility because their Earthly Branches form natural celestial bonds.
Can Chinese zodiac compatibility predict marriage success?
Chinese zodiac compatibility offers cultural insight into relationship dynamics, but it cannot predict marriage outcomes. The animal-sign matrix identifies natural synergy points and friction areas. For a complete analysis, practitioners examine both partners’ full BaZi (Four Pillars) charts, which include the Day Master — the stem of the birth day that reveals core personality. Successful marriages exist across all compatibility tiers.
Is same-sign compatibility good in Chinese zodiac?
Same-sign pairs (e.g., Rat-Rat, Dragon-Dragon) score 76 in our system, placing them in the Good tier. Two people sharing the same sign understand each other instinctively, but may also amplify each other’s weaknesses. For example, two Tigers may share passion but also share stubbornness. Same-sign compatibility works best when both partners have different BaZi element profiles.