What is a secret friend (六合) in Chinese zodiac compatibility?

A secret friend, or liù hé, is the single sign traditionally considered a person's closest ally — a steady, trusting partner in love and work. Each of the 12 signs has exactly one. The compatibility checker above names yours instantly.

Are clashing Chinese zodiac signs really incompatible?

A clash (相冲) is the sign directly opposite yours in the 12-year cycle, traditionally the most challenging match. It is framed as tradition, not fate: many clashing pairs thrive with awareness and effort. The chart flags clashes so you know where the friction is said to sit.

What are harm and punishment relationships (相害, 相刑)?

Beyond clashes, tradition names harm pairs (相害) — six pairings prone to small, wearing frictions — and punishment relationships (相刑), a more intricate set rarely used in casual readings. This tool marks harm pairs on the chart and focuses on the four relationships people use most: secret friend, harmony trine, clash and harm.

Chinese Zodiac Compatibility

Pick your sign and your partner’s to see how your Chinese zodiac signs match — secret friends, harmony trines, clashes and harm pairs — then blend your two animals into one creature.

You

HorseChange

Partner

GoatChange

Horse & Goat

Secret friends (liù hé)

In Chinese tradition, the Horse and the Goat are secret friends (六合) — the closest of all twelve pairings, a steady, trusting bond in love and in work.

Blend the Horse and the Goat into one creature

Not sure of your sign? Calculate it from your birth date →

How it reads

How Chinese zodiac compatibility works

Traditional Chinese astrology reads compatibility from where two signs sit in the 12-year cycle — three ideas do most of the work.

Harmony trine (三合)

Signs four years apart form four allied groups of three that naturally get along.

Secret friend (六合)

Each sign has one closest ally — the single best match in the whole zodiac.

Clash & harm (相冲·相害)

The opposite sign clashes; six further pairs are said to bring quieter friction.

Chinese zodiac compatibility chart

Chinese zodiac compatibility chart: every sign paired with every other sign.

Rat	Rat and Rat: Same sign	Rat and Ox: Secret friend	Rat and Tiger: Easygoing	Rat and Rabbit: Easygoing	Rat and Dragon: Harmony	Rat and Snake: Easygoing	Rat and Horse: Clash	Rat and Goat: Harm	Rat and Monkey: Harmony	Rat and Rooster: Easygoing	Rat and Dog: Easygoing	Rat and Pig: Easygoing
Ox	Ox and Rat: Secret friend	Ox and Ox: Same sign	Ox and Tiger: Easygoing	Ox and Rabbit: Easygoing	Ox and Dragon: Easygoing	Ox and Snake: Harmony	Ox and Horse: Harm	Ox and Goat: Clash	Ox and Monkey: Easygoing	Ox and Rooster: Harmony	Ox and Dog: Easygoing	Ox and Pig: Easygoing
Tiger	Tiger and Rat: Easygoing	Tiger and Ox: Easygoing	Tiger and Tiger: Same sign	Tiger and Rabbit: Easygoing	Tiger and Dragon: Easygoing	Tiger and Snake: Harm	Tiger and Horse: Harmony	Tiger and Goat: Easygoing	Tiger and Monkey: Clash	Tiger and Rooster: Easygoing	Tiger and Dog: Harmony	Tiger and Pig: Secret friend
Rabbit	Rabbit and Rat: Easygoing	Rabbit and Ox: Easygoing	Rabbit and Tiger: Easygoing	Rabbit and Rabbit: Same sign	Rabbit and Dragon: Harm	Rabbit and Snake: Easygoing	Rabbit and Horse: Easygoing	Rabbit and Goat: Harmony	Rabbit and Monkey: Easygoing	Rabbit and Rooster: Clash	Rabbit and Dog: Secret friend	Rabbit and Pig: Harmony
Dragon	Dragon and Rat: Harmony	Dragon and Ox: Easygoing	Dragon and Tiger: Easygoing	Dragon and Rabbit: Harm	Dragon and Dragon: Same sign	Dragon and Snake: Easygoing	Dragon and Horse: Easygoing	Dragon and Goat: Easygoing	Dragon and Monkey: Harmony	Dragon and Rooster: Secret friend	Dragon and Dog: Clash	Dragon and Pig: Easygoing
Snake	Snake and Rat: Easygoing	Snake and Ox: Harmony	Snake and Tiger: Harm	Snake and Rabbit: Easygoing	Snake and Dragon: Easygoing	Snake and Snake: Same sign	Snake and Horse: Easygoing	Snake and Goat: Easygoing	Snake and Monkey: Secret friend	Snake and Rooster: Harmony	Snake and Dog: Easygoing	Snake and Pig: Clash
Horse	Horse and Rat: Clash	Horse and Ox: Harm	Horse and Tiger: Harmony	Horse and Rabbit: Easygoing	Horse and Dragon: Easygoing	Horse and Snake: Easygoing	Horse and Horse: Same sign	Horse and Goat: Secret friend	Horse and Monkey: Easygoing	Horse and Rooster: Easygoing	Horse and Dog: Harmony	Horse and Pig: Easygoing
Goat	Goat and Rat: Harm	Goat and Ox: Clash	Goat and Tiger: Easygoing	Goat and Rabbit: Harmony	Goat and Dragon: Easygoing	Goat and Snake: Easygoing	Goat and Horse: Secret friend	Goat and Goat: Same sign	Goat and Monkey: Easygoing	Goat and Rooster: Easygoing	Goat and Dog: Easygoing	Goat and Pig: Harmony
Monkey	Monkey and Rat: Harmony	Monkey and Ox: Easygoing	Monkey and Tiger: Clash	Monkey and Rabbit: Easygoing	Monkey and Dragon: Harmony	Monkey and Snake: Secret friend	Monkey and Horse: Easygoing	Monkey and Goat: Easygoing	Monkey and Monkey: Same sign	Monkey and Rooster: Easygoing	Monkey and Dog: Easygoing	Monkey and Pig: Harm
Rooster	Rooster and Rat: Easygoing	Rooster and Ox: Harmony	Rooster and Tiger: Easygoing	Rooster and Rabbit: Clash	Rooster and Dragon: Secret friend	Rooster and Snake: Harmony	Rooster and Horse: Easygoing	Rooster and Goat: Easygoing	Rooster and Monkey: Easygoing	Rooster and Rooster: Same sign	Rooster and Dog: Harm	Rooster and Pig: Easygoing
Dog	Dog and Rat: Easygoing	Dog and Ox: Easygoing	Dog and Tiger: Harmony	Dog and Rabbit: Secret friend	Dog and Dragon: Clash	Dog and Snake: Easygoing	Dog and Horse: Harmony	Dog and Goat: Easygoing	Dog and Monkey: Easygoing	Dog and Rooster: Harm	Dog and Dog: Same sign	Dog and Pig: Easygoing
Pig	Pig and Rat: Easygoing	Pig and Ox: Easygoing	Pig and Tiger: Secret friend	Pig and Rabbit: Harmony	Pig and Dragon: Easygoing	Pig and Snake: Clash	Pig and Horse: Easygoing	Pig and Goat: Harmony	Pig and Monkey: Harm	Pig and Rooster: Easygoing	Pig and Dog: Easygoing	Pig and Pig: Same sign

Secret friend
Harmony
Easygoing
Harm
Clash

Read a row and a column to find any pair.

Not sure of your sign? Start with your birth year.

Chinese zodiac calculator →

The four groups

The four harmony trines

RatQuick-witted, Resourceful, Versatile

DragonConfident, Ambitious, Energetic

MonkeyClever, Curious, Playful

OxDiligent, Dependable, Strong

SnakeWise, Intuitive, Graceful

RoosterObservant, Hardworking, Confident

TigerBrave, Confident, Competitive

HorseEnergetic, Independent, Warm-hearted

DogLoyal, Honest, Kind

RabbitGentle, Elegant, Alert

GoatCalm, Gentle, Creative

PigGenerous, Diligent, Easygoing

Meet every sign in depth on the 12 Chinese year animals →

Chinese zodiac compatibility FAQ

Which Chinese zodiac signs are most compatible?

The strongest matches are the six secret-friend pairs (六合) — Rat & Ox, Tiger & Pig, Rabbit & Dog, Dragon & Rooster, Snake & Monkey, Horse & Goat — followed by the four harmony trines (三合), each three signs four years apart. Pick both signs in the checker above to see where your pairing lands.

Chinese zodiac compatibility is shared here as cultural tradition, for interest and fun.