Monkey compatibility
The Monkey’s Earthly Branch is Shin (申), and its Five Elements energy is Metal. Below, we go through how it relates to each of the other eleven signs, one by one.
The Monkey and the other eleven signs
Zodiac compatibility is read from the relationship between two people’s Earthly Branch (地支). Six Harmony and Three Harmony are bonds that tie together and gather, while Clash, Resentment (Wonjin), and Punishment are ones that shake things up and pull apart.
| Partner | Relation | Rating | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rat | Three Harmony | Best | A relationship where your energy gathers in the same direction. Whatever you start together, you can see through to the end. Metal generates (生) Water, so the Monkey usually ends up being the giver. |
| Ox | None | Fair | No notable Punishment, Clash, or Harmony here. Nothing outside shakes you up or pushes you along, so you get out exactly what you put in. Earth generates Metal, so the Monkey is on the receiving end. |
| Tiger | Clash | Caution | A head-on collision. It’s not bad luck but movement, so when you need to make a change, it actually becomes a strength. Metal controls (剋) Wood, so the Monkey easily takes the lead. |
| Rabbit | Resentment | Caution | A relationship with a friction that’s hard to explain. It’s better handled by managing distance than by trying to reason it out. Metal controls (剋) Wood, so the Monkey easily takes the lead. |
| Dragon | Three Harmony | Best | A relationship where your energy gathers in the same direction. Whatever you start together, you can see through to the end. Earth generates Metal, so the Monkey is on the receiving end. |
| Snake | Six Harmony | Best | A bond that ties the two of you into a stable pair. When you join hands, things go smoothly. Fire controls Metal, so you’ll tend to end up adjusting to the Snake’s standards. |
| Horse | None | Fair | No notable Punishment, Clash, or Harmony here. Nothing outside shakes you up or pushes you along, so you get out exactly what you put in. Fire controls Metal, so you’ll tend to end up adjusting to the Horse’s standards. |
| Goat | None | Fair | No notable Punishment, Clash, or Harmony here. Nothing outside shakes you up or pushes you along, so you get out exactly what you put in. Earth generates Metal, so the Monkey is on the receiving end. |
| Rooster | Directional Harmony | Good | You share the energy of the same season, so your vibes are alike. Comfortable, but not much fresh spark. You both carry Metal energy, so you understand each other easily — but you also share the same weak spots. |
| Dog | Directional Harmony | Good | You share the energy of the same season, so your vibes are alike. Comfortable, but not much fresh spark. Earth generates Metal, so the Monkey is on the receiving end. |
| Pig | Harm | Caution | A relationship that wears you down in small ways. Rather than big blowups, it’s minor losses and little hurt feelings that pile up. Metal generates (生) Water, so the Monkey usually ends up being the giver. |
What the Monkey is like in relationships
Multi-talented and great at improvising. Picks up anything fast. But once the interest fades, they let go, so things can stay on the surface.
Fun to be with — never a dull moment. Easy to talk to, and they handle any situation with flexibility. But when it’s time to go deep, they tend to slip out with a joke. The key is not dodging the serious conversations.
In Five Elements terms, the Monkey is Metal. It’s an energy that ties things up and cuts things off, so their relationship boundaries are clear. But once they close a chapter, there’s no going back.
What the Monkey often hears in relationships
“Can you be serious for once?” This is where the Monkey gives it their all, in their own way, yet it lands differently for the other person. Good compatibility means your partner understands it without needing an explanation — or something close to that.
Why the Monkey clicks · Why the Monkey clashes
With the Rat — Three Harmony
A relationship where your energy gathers in the same direction. Whatever you start together, you can see through to the end. The Rat is quick-witted and good at reading the room. Paired with the Monkey’s talented, quick-on-their-feet nature, you fill in each other’s gaps.
With the Tiger — Clash
A head-on collision. It’s not bad luck but movement, so when you need to make a change, it actually becomes a strength. The Tiger has strong drive and isn’t afraid to lead. Paired with the Monkey’s talented, quick-on-their-feet nature, your pace and direction can easily fall out of sync.
With the Rabbit — Resentment (Wonjin)
A relationship with a friction that’s hard to explain. It’s better handled by managing distance than by trying to reason it out. The Rabbit is gentle, sociable, and has a great eye for beauty. Paired with the Monkey’s talented, quick-on-their-feet nature, your pace and direction can easily fall out of sync.
With the Dragon — Three Harmony
A relationship where your energy gathers in the same direction. Whatever you start together, you can see through to the end. The Dragon has a big presence and thinks on a big scale. Paired with the Monkey’s talented, quick-on-their-feet nature, you fill in each other’s gaps.
With the Snake — Six Harmony
A bond that ties the two of you into a stable pair. When you join hands, things go smoothly. The Snake watches quietly, then moves with precision. Paired with the Monkey’s talented, quick-on-their-feet nature, you fill in each other’s gaps.
Why your zodiac sign alone isn’t enough
Even two Monkeys will have completely different eight saju characters if they were born in a different month, on a different day, or at a different hour. Your zodiac sign is only one of them. People born in 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 and so on are all Monkeys, and there’s no way they all share the same saju.
In saju, the first place to look when reading compatibility is the Day Branch (日支). It’s the lower character of the day you were born, and it’s also called the Spouse Palace. If two people’s Day Branches form a Six Harmony, life together feels easy; if they Clash, you’ll find yourselves on the move together a lot.
Next comes the Day Master (日干). Whether the two Day Masters generate (生) or control (剋) each other determines who takes the lead and whose energy gets spent. Finally, we check whether each person’s Useful God is supplied by the other — when it is, being together fills in what each of you lacks.
In short, the reading gets more precise in this order: zodiac sign → Day Branch → Day Master → complementary Useful Gods . Zodiac compatibility is the outermost layer.
FAQ
Which sign is the Monkey most compatible with?
The Rat, Dragon, and Snake. Six Harmony is a bond that brings stability, and Three Harmony is a bond where energy gathers in the same direction, so the saju tradition sees these as the best pairings.
Which signs aren’t a good match for the Monkey?
The Tiger and the Rabbit. That said, a Clash isn’t bad luck — it’s movement. It pushes both of you to change, so it can actually be a powerful pairing when you’re starting something new together. Resentment (Wonjin) is friction without a clear reason, so it calls for keeping a healthy distance; with Punishment, make paperwork and promises crystal clear.
Can you decide on marriage from zodiac compatibility alone?
No. Your zodiac sign is just one Earthly Branch from the year you were born. Real compatibility depends far more on the stem and branch of the Day you were born (your Day Pillar). In particular, the Day Branch is the Spouse Palace, so the relationship between two people’s Day Branches comes first. Enter your birth dates to see a free compatibility reading based on your Day Pillars.
If a Clash shows up in our compatibility, should we break up?
Not at all. A Clash (冲) is when two branches meet head-on and create movement. It can be tiring when you want stability, but when you need change — moving, starting a business, switching careers — it becomes a force that pushes you both forward. In fact, plenty of long-lasting couples have a Clash relationship.
Which birth years are the Monkey?
Those born in 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, and 2016.
Compatibility for the other signs
More for the Monkey
What does Jeombom base its saju calculations on?
Jeombom is a Korean saju service that builds its saju calendar from the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute’s solar-term data and corrects your birth time to true solar time to calculate the eight characters of your chart.
| Item | Jeombom standard |
|---|---|
| Solar terms · saju calendar | Solar-term data from the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) |
| Birth time | True solar time correction — subtracts the 30-minute gap between standard time (135°E) and central Korea (about 127.5°E), adjusted by the equation of time, which varies by date |
| Daylight saving time | 12 periods applied: 1948–1951, 1955–1960, 1987–1988 |
| Former standard time | 127.5°E period from Mar 21, 1954 to Aug 9, 1961 applied |
| Input | Solar birth date (convert a lunar birthday to solar before entering) |
Why correct for true solar time?
Because clock time and the sun’s actual time can be about 30 minutes apart. If you were born during daylight saving time or the former standard time period, your Hour Pillar can shift by one slot without the correction. Detailed records are in Korean Standard Time records and Hour Pillar check. For what to check when choosing a free saju reading, see How to choose a free saju reading.
Where can I see the sources behind Jeombom’s readings?
- Korea Law Information Center — Standard Time Act
- National Institute of Korean Language Standard Dictionary — meaning of “saju palja”
- Wikipedia (Korean) — Saju palja
- Wikipedia (Korean) — Korean Standard Time (daylight saving history)
- KASI Astronomy Knowledge Portal — monthly solar/lunar calendar
Can I take the horoscope results at face value?
Jeombom’s fortune results are entertainment content, for fun and reference. For important decisions about health, law or investing, please consult a qualified professional.