Chinese Zodiac Compatibility Chart (Korean Saju Edition): Best Matches for All 12 Animals
Chinese and Korean zodiac compatibility use the same twelve animals and the same classic pairings. This chart shows every animal's natural allies, secret friend, opposite sign and friction pair — the Korean saju way — plus the one detail most charts get wrong: when your zodiac year actually starts.
First, Make Sure You Have the Right Animal
In Korean saju the zodiac year changes at Ipchun, the Start of Spring, around February 4 — not on January 1 and not on Lunar New Year. If you were born in January or early February, your animal is the one from the year before. Someone born on January 20, 1996, for example, is a Pig, not a Rat.
Your animal comes from the earthly branch of your year pillar. It describes your outer, social layer: how you move through groups, family and the wider world. That is why zodiac compatibility is a fun first look rather than the whole story.
Natural Allies: The Four Three-Harmony Groups
The strongest friendly pattern is the three-harmony group (삼합, samhap). Animals four years apart share an element and tend to understand each other's pace: Rat, Dragon and Monkey (Water) · Ox, Snake and Rooster (Metal) · Tiger, Horse and Dog (Fire) · Rabbit, Goat and Pig (Wood).
Pairs inside the same group often feel like teammates — they want similar things and recover quickly after disagreements.
Check two animals — or two whole charts
Pick two animals for a quick zodiac match, or add two birthdays for gunghap: both Day Masters, harmonies and clashes. No sign-up.
Secret Friends: The Six Harmonies
The six harmonies (육합, yukhap) pair animals that quietly complete each other: Rat and Ox · Tiger and Pig · Rabbit and Dog · Dragon and Rooster · Snake and Monkey · Horse and Goat.
These matches are less obvious from the outside. One partner usually supplies what the other is missing — calm for restlessness, structure for imagination.
Opposite Signs and Friction Pairs
Animals six years apart sit opposite each other on the zodiac circle — the clash (충, chung): Rat and Horse · Ox and Goat · Tiger and Monkey · Rabbit and Rooster · Dragon and Dog · Snake and Pig. A clash brings movement and strong attraction as well as friction. It is a lively contrast, not a bad match.
The harm pairs (해, hae) describe smaller, everyday frictions — misunderstandings that grow when left alone: Rat and Goat · Ox and Horse · Tiger and Snake · Rabbit and Dragon · Monkey and Pig · Rooster and Dog. Clear, early communication is the usual remedy.
Every Animal at a Glance
Rat — allies Dragon, Monkey · secret friend Ox · opposite Horse. Ox — allies Snake, Rooster · secret friend Rat · opposite Goat. Tiger — allies Horse, Dog · secret friend Pig · opposite Monkey. Rabbit — allies Goat, Pig · secret friend Dog · opposite Rooster.
Dragon — allies Rat, Monkey · secret friend Rooster · opposite Dog. Snake — allies Ox, Rooster · secret friend Monkey · opposite Pig. Horse — allies Tiger, Dog · secret friend Goat · opposite Rat. Goat — allies Rabbit, Pig · secret friend Horse · opposite Ox.
Monkey — allies Rat, Dragon · secret friend Snake · opposite Tiger. Rooster — allies Ox, Snake · secret friend Dragon · opposite Rabbit. Dog — allies Tiger, Horse · secret friend Rabbit · opposite Dragon. Pig — allies Rabbit, Goat · secret friend Tiger · opposite Snake.
Beyond the Animal: How Koreans Really Check Compatibility
Korean gunghap (궁합) compares the full birth charts of two people — all eight characters of the year, month, day and hour — with the Day Masters, the elements of each person's birth day, at the centre. Two "clashing" animals can have Day Masters that feed each other, and two "perfect" animals can still need patience.
Compatibility describes tendencies between two charts. It never decides what another person will feel or choose — think of it as a map of where things flow easily and where a little extra care helps.
Check two animals — or two whole charts
Pick two animals for a quick zodiac match, or add two birthdays for gunghap: both Day Masters, harmonies and clashes. No sign-up.
Questions people ask
Is Korean zodiac compatibility the same as Chinese zodiac compatibility?
Yes — the same twelve animals and the same classic pairings (three harmonies, six harmonies, clashes). Korean saju counts the zodiac year from Ipchun, around February 4.
Is a clash (opposite sign) a bad match?
No. Opposite signs bring movement, attraction and challenge. Many lively couples are opposite signs; the clash simply shows where patience helps.
Which zodiac animals are most compatible?
Animals in the same three-harmony group (four years apart) and the six secret-friend pairs are the classic best matches — for example Rat with Dragon, Monkey or Ox.
Why does my compatibility result differ between charts?
Many charts use January 1 or Lunar New Year as the year boundary, and many only look at the year animal. Korean saju uses Ipchun and compares the full charts, including the Day Masters.
More guides
Read your whole chart
Your day pillar is one of eight characters. See all four pillars, your five elements and your 2027 — the first chapters are free.