Comparison
Bullish Engulfing vs Bullish Harami
Both are two-candle bullish patterns after a decline, but they are opposites in structure. In a bullish engulfing, a large green body completely covers the previous red body, showing buyers took over. In a bullish harami, a small green body sits inside the previous large red body, showing selling has paused rather than reversed.
Bullish Engulfing
bullish bias
A bullish engulfing pattern is a two-candle reversal: a red candle followed by a larger green candle whose body completely covers the red body. It shows buyers overwhelming the prior session's selling.
Bullish Harami
bullish bias
A bullish harami is a large red candle followed by a small candle whose body sits inside the red body. It shows the selling has paused.
Side by side
| Aspect | Bullish Engulfing | Bullish Harami |
|---|---|---|
| Second candle | Larger body that covers the first | Smaller body inside the first |
| What it shows | Buyers overwhelming sellers | Sellers losing momentum |
| Relative strength | Stronger | Weaker, more of a pause |
| Invalidation | A close below the engulfing candle's low | A close below the first candle's low |
How to tell them apart on a chart
- Compare body sizes. A bigger second body is engulfing; a smaller one inside the first is a harami.
- Both need to appear after a decline.
- A harami especially needs a following higher close before it means much.
Bullish Engulfing: confirmation and invalidation
Confirms: A following candle that holds above the engulfing candle's midpoint or closes higher.
Invalidated: A close below the low of the engulfing pattern.
Bullish Harami: confirmation and invalidation
Confirms: A close above the first candle's open, which is the basis of the three inside up pattern.
Invalidated: A close below the first candle's low.
Frequently asked questions
What does harami mean?
It is Japanese for pregnant, describing the small second candle held inside the first.
Which is more reliable?
Engulfing patterns are generally treated as the stronger signal. Both depend on location and confirmation.
Full guides
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Educational content only, not financial advice. Chart patterns describe probabilities, not certainties, and every pattern can fail. See our disclaimer.