Chinese zodiac compatibility
In Chinese zodiac tradition each sign has two best matches (the other two in its group of three, 三合), one secret friend (六合) and one clash (六冲), the sign six years away. This is a cultural tradition rather than something proven. The table reads across: find your sign on the left and the sign you are asking about at the top.
| 鼠 | 牛 | 虎 | 兔 | 龙 | 蛇 | 马 | 羊 | 猴 | 鸡 | 狗 | 猪 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rat | · | 六合 | 三合 | 六冲 | 三合 | |||||||
| Ox | 六合 | · | 三合 | 六冲 | 三合 | |||||||
| Tiger | · | 三合 | 六冲 | 三合 | 六合 | |||||||
| Rabbit | · | 三合 | 六冲 | 六合 | 三合 | |||||||
| Dragon | 三合 | · | 三合 | 六合 | 六冲 | |||||||
| Snake | 三合 | · | 六合 | 三合 | 六冲 | |||||||
| Horse | 六冲 | 三合 | · | 六合 | 三合 | |||||||
| Goat | 六冲 | 三合 | 六合 | · | 三合 | |||||||
| Monkey | 三合 | 六冲 | 三合 | 六合 | · | |||||||
| Rooster | 三合 | 六冲 | 六合 | 三合 | · | |||||||
| Dog | 三合 | 六合 | 六冲 | 三合 | · | |||||||
| Pig | 六合 | 三合 | 六冲 | 三合 | · |
- 三合 sān hé, "three combine": Rat, Dragon, Monkey · Ox, Snake, Rooster · Tiger, Horse, Dog · Rabbit, Goat, Pig.
- 六合 liù hé, "six harmonies": Rat and Ox · Tiger and Pig · Rabbit and Dog · Dragon and Rooster · Snake and Monkey · Horse and Goat.
- 六冲 liù chōng, "six clashes": Rat and Horse · Ox and Goat · Tiger and Monkey · Rabbit and Rooster · Dragon and Dog · Snake and Pig.
Frequently asked questions
Which Chinese zodiac signs are most compatible?
Tradition groups the twelve signs into four sets of three that suit each other best (三合 sān hé): Rat, Dragon and Monkey; Ox, Snake and Rooster; Tiger, Horse and Dog; Rabbit, Goat and Pig.
What is a secret friend in the zodiac?
A 六合 (liù hé) pair: Rat and Ox, Tiger and Pig, Rabbit and Dog, Dragon and Rooster, Snake and Monkey, Horse and Goat. Tradition treats them as a close, supportive match.
Which signs clash?
Signs six years apart: Rat and Horse, Ox and Goat, Tiger and Monkey, Rabbit and Rooster, Dragon and Dog, Snake and Pig (六冲 liù chōng).
Is zodiac compatibility real?
It is a cultural tradition used for fun and sometimes for matchmaking and wedding dates, not something tested or proven. The groupings here are the traditional ones.
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