Japanese Candlestick Patterns
A complete reference guide covering all 44 recognized formations. Each pattern includes a visualization and behavioral interpretation.
Doji Neutral
Open and close are virtually equal. Looks like a cross or plus sign.
Interpretation
Represents a tug-of-war where neither bulls nor bears won. If found after a long trend, it signals the trend is losing strength.
Dragonfly Doji Bullish
T-shaped. Prices opened high, sold off hard, but returned to the open.
Interpretation
Bears attempted to drive prices down but failed. The long lower shadow indicates strong demand at lower levels.
Gravestone Doji Bearish
Inverted T. Buyers rallied the price, but sellers forced it all the way back down.
Interpretation
Bulls failed to sustain the rally. The long upper shadow suggests overhead resistance and potential downside.
Doji Star (Bullish) Reversal
A long red candle followed by a Doji gapped below it.
Interpretation
The gap down shows bearish momentum, but the Doji indicates that selling pressure has suddenly evaporated. Watch for a reversal.
Doji Star (Bearish) Reversal
A long green candle followed by a Doji gapped above it.
Interpretation
The uptrend was strong, but the market suddenly stalled at highs. The indecision (Doji) often precedes a correction.
Spinning Top White Neutral
Small green body with equal shadows.
Interpretation
Bulls are slightly ahead, but the market is mostly consolidating. Often marks a resting period within a larger trend.
Spinning Top Black Neutral
Small red body with equal shadows.
Interpretation
Bears are slightly ahead, but lack the conviction to drive prices significantly lower. Signals a pause in volatility.
Marubozu White Strong Bull
Long green body, no wicks. Opens at low, closes at high.
Interpretation
Total buyer dominance. The lack of shadows means buyers were aggressive from the opening bell to the close. usually signals trend continuation.
Marubozu Black Strong Bear
Long red body, no wicks. Opens at high, closes at low.
Interpretation
Total seller dominance. There was no hesitation; sellers controlled the entire session. Expect lower prices to follow.
Long Shadows
Long Lower Shadow Bullish
A candle (any color) with a tail at least 2x the body length.
Interpretation
Indicates that sellers pushed price down, but buyers stepped in to support that level. The "spring" action often leads to a bounce.
Long Upper Shadow Bearish
A candle (any color) with a long upper wick.
Interpretation
Indicates that buyers pushed price up, but were overwhelmed by selling pressure at the highs. A sign of overhead resistance.
Hammer Reversal
Found in downtrends. Small body, long lower wick.
Interpretation
The market hammered out a bottom. The long shadow proves that while bears sold early, bulls closed strong. Requires a green candle next to confirm.
Hanging Man Reversal
Found in uptrends. Looks identical to a Hammer but appears at the top.
Interpretation
Ominous sign. The long lower shadow shows that sellers were able to push price down significantly during the session, cracking buyer confidence.
Shooting Star Reversal
Uptrend pattern. Small body low, long upper wick.
Interpretation
The rally failed. Buyers tried to break out, but sellers slammed the door shut. Usually marks a short-term top.
Inverted Hammer Reversal
Downtrend pattern. Looks like Shooting Star but at the bottom.
Interpretation
Although the session closed low, the long upper wick shows that buyers are finally attempting to push prices up. A change in sentiment is brewing.
Engulfing - Bullish Reversal
A large green candle completely consumes the body of the previous small red candle.
Interpretation
A definitive power shift. Bears were in control, but bulls stepped in with overwhelming volume, wiping out previous losses.
Engulfing - Bearish Reversal
A large red candle completely consumes the body of the previous small green candle.
Interpretation
Buyers have been exhausted. Sellers aggressively took over, pushing price below the previous open. A strong sell signal.
Harami - Bullish Reversal
A small green "baby" candle is contained inside a large red "mother" candle.
Interpretation
Means "Pregnant" in Japanese. The downtrend has stopped. The small inside bar indicates volatility contraction and a potential breakout.
Harami - Bearish Reversal
A small red candle contained inside a large green candle.
Interpretation
Buying pressure has dried up. The market is taking a breath, often before rolling over to the downside.
Harami Cross - Bullish Reversal
A Doji (cross) contained within a large red candle.
Interpretation
Stronger than a standard Harami. The Doji indicates total indecision after a strong move, increasing the likelihood of a reversal.
Harami Cross - Bearish Reversal
A Doji contained within a large green candle.
Interpretation
Warning sign. The trend has hit a wall. Traders are unsure if the price should go higher, often leading to profit taking.
Piercing - Bullish Reversal
Green candle opens lower than red candle's low, but closes above the red body's midpoint.
Interpretation
Bears tried to push lower at the open but failed. Buyers drove price deep into previous territory. Closing above the midpoint is key for validity.
Dark Cloud Cover Reversal
Red candle opens higher than green candle's high, but closes below the green body's midpoint.
Interpretation
The gap up was a bull trap. Sellers forced the price down significantly. It signals the top of the current trend.
On Neck Continuation
Downtrend. A small green candle gaps down but closes exactly at the previous low (neck).
Interpretation
Bearish pattern. The small rally couldn't even enter the previous candle's body. The trend is likely to continue downward.
Kicking - Bullish Explosive
Red Marubozu followed by a gap UP to a Green Marubozu.
Interpretation
One of the strongest signals. Often caused by surprise news. The market sentiment flipped instantly and violently from negative to positive.
Kicking - Bearish Explosive
Green Marubozu followed by a gap DOWN to a Red Marubozu.
Interpretation
Violent sentiment shift. Traders are dumping positions regardless of price. Usually leads to a sharp decline.
Tweezer Bottom Reversal
Two candles matching perfectly at the lows.
Interpretation
Indicates a firm support floor. The market tested the exact same price twice and refused to break it.
Tweezer Top Reversal
Two candles matching perfectly at the highs.
Interpretation
Indicates a firm resistance ceiling. Buyers cannot push price any higher than this specific level.
Morning Star Reversal
Red candle, gap down to a small body (star), then green candle driving up.
Interpretation
Classic 3-part reversal: 1) Strong Downtrend 2) Indecision/Star 3) New Uptrend confirmation. Dawn of a new trend.
Morning Doji Star Strong Rev
Same as Morning Star, but the middle candle is a Doji.
Interpretation
The Doji indicates more extreme indecision than a standard star. This makes the subsequent reversal signal more reliable.
Tri-Star Bullish Rare
Three consecutive Doji candles where the middle one is lower.
Interpretation
Very rare. The market has stalled completely at a bottom. Traders are confused, often preceding a sharp breakout.
Evening Star Reversal
Green candle, gap up to small body, then red candle crashing down.
Interpretation
The "sunset" of the trend. Buying exhausted at the star, followed by heavy selling confirmation.
Evening Doji Star Strong Rev
Evening Star with a Doji in the middle.
Interpretation
Stronger than the standard version. The Doji represents a total freeze in buying momentum before the crash.
Tri-Star Bearish Rare
Three Doji candles where the middle one is higher.
Interpretation
Rare top formation. The market is exhausted and neither side can make progress. A breakdown is usually imminent.
Three White Soldiers Reversal
Three consecutive long green candles, each closing higher.
Interpretation
Very strong uptrend signal. Bulls are staying in positions overnight and buying at the open. Watch for overbought conditions.
Three Black Crows Reversal
Three consecutive long red candles, each closing lower.
Interpretation
Heavy liquidation. Investors are fleeing the asset. Often marks the start of a prolonged bear market.
Abandoned Baby - Bullish Major Rev
Doji completely gapped away (shadows don't touch) at the bottom. Island reversal.
Interpretation
The "Island Reversal" implies price has jumped a level, leaving short sellers trapped at the bottom with no way to exit profitably.
Abandoned Baby - Bearish Major Rev
Doji completely gapped away at the top. Major island reversal top.
Interpretation
Late buyers are trapped on the "island" at the top. The gap down signals a panic exit. Very powerful reversal signal.
Rising Three Methods Continue
Long green, followed by 3 small red candles staying within range, then a long green breakout.
Interpretation
A "Bullish Flag". The small pullback was just profit-taking. The trend is healthy and resuming upward.
Falling Three Methods Continue
Long red, followed by 3 small green candles staying within range, then a long red breakdown.
Interpretation
A "Bear Flag". The minor rally failed to break resistance. Sellers have rested and are ready to push lower.
Rising Window Continue
A gap up between two green candles. The gap acts as support.
Interpretation
Shows strong momentum. Any pullbacks are likely to bounce off the "window" (gap area).
Falling Window Continue
A gap down between two red candles. The gap acts as resistance.
Interpretation
Shows panic selling. Any rallies will likely fail when they reach the "window" (gap area).
Upside Tasuki Gap Continue
Gap up, followed by a red candle that dips into the gap but does not close it.
Interpretation
Bullish continuation. The slight dip was bought up. Since the gap was not filled, the uptrend remains intact.
Downside Tasuki Gap Continue
Gap down, followed by a green candle that rallies into the gap but does not close it.
Interpretation
Bearish continuation. The rally attempt failed to close the gap, signaling that bears are still in control.