How to read the compatibility index

The index may combine the zodiac signs, the Day Masters, the marriage palaces, the complementarity of the five elements, the nayin and the spouse stars, among others.

Each of these corresponds to a different theme — attraction, stability, complementarity, pressure and long-term living together.

The zodiac signs and the nayin are more like the outer layer of affinity; the Day Masters and the marriage palaces sit closer to daily life; the complementarity of the five elements shows whether the energies complete each other; and the spouse stars show whether each of you can see the other's needs for the relationship.

A relationship scoring 85 may be well balanced across the board, or it may have a few very strong dimensions and one very weak one. A relationship scoring 65 may simply have one dimension holding it back.

So the score suits quick orientation best, and is not suited to being turned straight into a standard for marrying or separating. What you actually want to read is the structure between the dimensions.

If attraction is high but stability is weak, the focus is on commitment, rhythm and boundaries. If stability is high but expression is weak, the focus is on emotional exchange and closeness.

A high score usually means the two support or complement each other more easily on the traditional dimensions. It does not mean you will never argue. A high-scoring relationship can still fluctuate in real life because of communication habits, family pressure or views on money.

A low score means the points of friction are more visible and that you will need more communication and clearer boundaries. It does not mean the relationship has no value.

The most useful thing about a low score is that it lets you see the concrete problem in advance: whether it is a mismatch of rhythm, of emotional expression, of values, or of how willing both of you are to give way.

The score gives you an overview; the specific advice is what tells you what to strengthen and what to avoid.

Some relationships have strong attraction but weak stability; others are very steady but poor at expression.

If the advice points to different views on money, talk about the budget, saving and risk early. If it points to pressure in communication, build a way of repairing things after an argument, rather than only deciding who was right.

When you have only just met, the index is a light reference and should not replace real getting-to-know-each-other too early. In the early stages of ambiguity or early dating, what matters more is whether the interaction feels comfortable and whether the values can be talked about.

When you get to meeting the parents, engagement, marriage, living together, buying a home or planning children, the index becomes far more practical, because it helps you discuss the pressure points of long-term living in advance.

And if a relationship keeps stalling on the same issue, you can look back at the index to see whether the problem is a lack of attraction or something with stability, communication, family or rhythm.

The best use is to rewrite each dimension as a question you can actually discuss: how do we handle money? How do we arrange things with each other's families? Who cools off first after a conflict? Who needs more security?

The score is not a judgement but a check-up sheet for the relationship. It helps you find where it is strong and where it needs looking after.

How long it lasts is not decided by one number, but by whether the two of you are willing to face these questions and build rules for living together.