Harami Patterns
Overview
A harami (Japanese for 'pregnant') is a two-candle pattern where a small candle is completely contained within the prior candle's body. A bullish harami appears in downtrends; a bearish harami in uptrends. Haramis signal fading momentum but require confirmation before trading.
Key Concepts
Small second candle contained within first candle's body, First candle should be large relative to recent candles, Cross harami (where the small candle is a doji) is a stronger signal, Inside bar is the Western equivalent
Entry Signals
Harami at key support/resistance, Cross harami with volume decline on the small candle, Confirmation break above/below the harami range, RSI divergence at the harami location
Exit Signals
Break of the harami range determines direction, Stop beyond the opposite side of the range, Target 1.5–2× the harami range as minimum
Best Timeframes
4H, Daily
Pro Tips
Haramis are moderate-strength patterns — add confluence from moving averages, Fibonacci levels, or volume profile for higher conviction.
More Topics in This Category
Inside Bars
An inside bar is a candle completely contained within the range (high to low) of the previous candle. It represents a contraction of volatility and indecision. Inside bars are used as breakout setups — traders wait for price to break above or below the inside bar's range (or the 'mother bar' range) to enter.
Three-Line Strike Patterns
The three-line strike is a four-candle pattern where three consecutive candles move in one direction, followed by a single large candle that engulfs all three. Despite appearing as a reversal, statistical analysis shows the bullish three-line strike actually has a high probability of continuing the prior uptrend, making it a continuation signal. The bearish variant behaves similarly as a continuation of the downtrend.
Morning & Evening Star
The morning star is a three-candle bullish reversal: a large bearish candle, a small body candle (the star) that gaps down, and a large bullish candle that closes well into the first candle's body. The evening star is the bearish mirror. These are among the strongest candlestick reversal patterns.
Three White Soldiers / Black Crows
Three white soldiers are three consecutive large bullish candles with progressively higher closes, each opening within the prior candle's body. Three black crows are the bearish equivalent. These patterns signal strong momentum shifts and conviction from buyers (soldiers) or sellers (crows).