Chinese Zodiac Compatibility Calculator
Enter your family's birth years to discover each member's Chinese zodiac animal and element, map the harmony between every pair, and calculate an overall family compatibility score rooted in the San He, Liu He, Wu Xing, and Yin-Yang traditions of Chinese astrology.
Want to understand how the scoring works? Read our Compatibility Guide for the full breakdown of trine groups, secret friends, Five Elements, and Yin-Yang polarity.
Understanding Your Compatibility Score
The calculator produces a score between 38 and 98 for each pair and an overall family harmony percentage. Here is how to interpret the results.
Strong natural affinity. Likely a San He trine match or Secret Friend pair with complementary elements and balanced polarity. These relationships feel effortless.
Solid foundation with a few areas of difference. Often a same-element pair or a combination where bonuses from one pillar offset mild tension from another.
A balanced mix of harmony and friction. These relationships require more conscious effort but often produce growth. Many successful couples fall in this range.
Significant energetic differences, often a clash or harm pair with reinforcing elemental tension. These relationships are not doomed but benefit from understanding and patience.
Remember: no single score defines a relationship. Chinese astrology views compatibility as a spectrum of energies, not a verdict. A "challenging" score often means the relationship has more growth potential, while an "excellent" score means the connection flows naturally. For the full breakdown of how scoring works, see the Compatibility Guide.
What Is Chinese Zodiac Compatibility?
In Chinese astrology, compatibility between two people is not a simple "match or mismatch." It is a layered system built from the Earthly Branches (Di Zhi) tradition, where six overlapping dimensions shape how any two zodiac signs interact. Think of it like mixing paints: two colors might clash on their own, but the right proportions and lighting can produce something beautiful.
The 12-year zodiac cycle assigns every person an animal sign based on their birth year: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Each animal carries a fixed Yin or Yang polarity, an element affinity, and personality traits that determine how it connects with the other eleven signs.
The Six Dimensions of Compatibility
San He (Three Harmonies)
The 12 animals form four trine groups of three: Rat-Dragon-Monkey, Ox-Snake-Rooster, Tiger-Horse-Dog, and Rabbit-Sheep-Pig. Signs within the same group share core temperament and have the deepest natural affinity, like growing up in the same neighborhood.
Secret Friends (Liu He)
Six exclusive one-to-one bonds where two signs instinctively have each other's back: Rat-Ox, Tiger-Pig, Rabbit-Dog, Dragon-Rooster, Snake-Monkey, and Horse-Sheep. These pairs produce a new elemental energy when combined.
Liu Chong (Six Clashes)
Opposite signs separated by six positions on the zodiac wheel: Rat-Horse, Ox-Sheep, Tiger-Monkey, Rabbit-Rooster, Dragon-Dog, and Snake-Pig. These pairs pull in opposite directions, creating friction that can also fuel growth.
Liu Hai (Six Harms)
Subtle tension pairs where misunderstandings build slowly beneath the surface. Unlike the loud friction of a clash, harm relationships simmer quietly and are easy to overlook until they become difficult to resolve.
Wu Xing (Five Elements)
Every birth year carries one of five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, or Water. Elements interact through a generating cycle (Water nurtures Wood, Wood feeds Fire) and an overcoming cycle (Water quenches Fire, Fire melts Metal).
Yin-Yang Polarity
Each animal is fixed as Yin (receptive) or Yang (active). When combined with a person's gender, this creates four energy types: Strong Yang, Balanced Yang, Balanced Yin, and Strong Yin. Complementary polarities create harmony; identical polarities can cause power struggles.
Our calculator evaluates all six dimensions for every pair in your family, applies a curved scoring formula to keep results realistic, and visualizes the connections as an interactive harmony tree. For a deep dive into how each pillar works and how scoring is calculated, read our full Compatibility Guide.
The Four Compatibility Groups at a Glance
The four San He trine groups are the foundation of Chinese zodiac compatibility. Signs within the same group are considered the most naturally compatible pairings in Chinese astrology. Not sure what sign you or your family members are? Use our What's My Sign? calculator to find out.
Ambitious, strategic, and action-oriented. These three share a drive to achieve and a talent for seizing opportunity.
Methodical, principled, and quietly relentless. This group values discipline and getting it right over getting it fast.
Bold, freedom-loving, and driven by justice. They act on instinct and conviction, always first to speak up.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Chinese zodiac compatibility work?
Chinese zodiac compatibility is based on the Earthly Branches system, where 12 animal signs interact through multiple dimensions: San He (Three Harmonies) trine groups, Liu He (Six Harmonies) secret friend pairs, Liu Chong (Six Clashes) opposition pairs, Wu Xing (Five Elements) chemistry, and Yin-Yang polarity. Each dimension adds or subtracts points to produce an overall compatibility score.
Which Chinese zodiac signs are most compatible?
The most compatible pairings come from the four San He trine groups: Rat-Dragon-Monkey, Ox-Snake-Rooster, Tiger-Horse-Dog, and Rabbit-Sheep-Pig. Signs within the same group share core temperament and natural affinity. The six Secret Friend pairs (Rat-Ox, Tiger-Pig, Rabbit-Dog, Dragon-Rooster, Snake-Monkey, Horse-Sheep) also have strong natural compatibility.
Which Chinese zodiac signs clash?
The six clash pairs (Liu Chong) are signs that sit opposite each other on the zodiac wheel: Rat-Horse, Ox-Sheep, Tiger-Monkey, Rabbit-Rooster, Dragon-Dog, and Snake-Pig. These pairs experience direct energetic opposition but can still have successful relationships with awareness and effort.
Do the Five Elements affect zodiac compatibility?
Yes. Every birth year carries one of five elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) based on the Wu Xing system. Elements interact through a generating cycle where one nurtures the next, and an overcoming cycle where one controls another. Two people in the same trine group but with clashing elements will score differently than the same pairing with productive elements.
Can incompatible zodiac signs have a good relationship?
Absolutely. Chinese zodiac compatibility is a layered system, not a single pass/fail score. A clash pair might also share a productive element cycle or complementary Yin-Yang polarity, which balances the friction. Traditional Chinese astrology views clashes as dynamic opposition that can drive growth, not as a verdict on the relationship.
Explore More
Deep dive into San He, Liu He, Liu Chong, Wu Xing, and Yin-Yang with scoring breakdowns and the full 12x12 matrix.
Four Pillars of DestinyGo beyond your birth year. Discover your Outer, Inner, True, and Secret zodiac animals from the Ba Zi system.
What's My Sign?Not sure which animal you are? Enter your birth date to reveal your Chinese zodiac sign, Western sign, and element.
The Five ElementsUnderstand how Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water shape personality traits and compatibility between signs.
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