What Is the Chinese Zodiac?
The Chinese zodiac (Sheng Xiao) is a repeating 12-year cycle where each year is represented by an animal: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. The system was first identified during China's Han dynasty and is rooted in the lunar calendar used in ancient China.
In Chinese culture, a person's zodiac sign is considered influential in many aspects of life, including personality, career, finances, romantic compatibility, and ongoing luck. Each sign is also linked to one of the five elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water), which adds another layer of meaning based on your specific birth year.
The Chinese New Year typically falls in late January or early February on the Gregorian calendar, so your zodiac sign depends on the exact lunar date of your birth, not just the calendar year.
Find Your Chinese Zodiac Sign
Enter your date of birth to discover your zodiac animal and element
Chinese Zodiac Years
Find your birth year in the table below to identify your zodiac animal. Note that the Chinese zodiac follows the lunar calendar, so if you were born in January or February, your sign may be the previous year's animal.
| Zodiac Sign | Years |
|---|---|
| Rat | 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020, 2032 |
| Ox | 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021, 2033 |
| Tiger | 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022, 2034 |
| Rabbit | 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023, 2035 |
| Dragon | 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024, 2036 |
| Snake | 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025, 2037 |
| Horse | 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026, 2038 |
| Goat | 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027, 2039 |
| Monkey | 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028, 2040 |
| Rooster | 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029, 2041 |
| Dog | 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030, 2042 |
| Pig | 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031, 2043 |
Your Zodiac Birth Year (Ben Ming Nian)
Since there are 12 zodiac signs, your zodiac year ("Ben Ming Nian" in Chinese) comes around once every 12 years. In Chinese tradition, this year requires special care. It is believed that you should take extra precautions not to anger Tai Sui, the Guardian God of the Year, or risk a year of bad luck. Many people wear red clothing or accessories during their Ben Ming Nian as a form of protection.
Chinese Zodiac Signs: Personality & Luck
Rat
2008, 2020, 2032...Ox
2009, 2021, 2033...Tiger
2010, 2022, 2034...Rabbit
2011, 2023, 2035...Dragon
2012, 2024, 2036...Snake
2013, 2025, 2037...Horse
2014, 2026, 2038...Goat
2015, 2027, 2039...Monkey
2016, 2028, 2040...Rooster
2017, 2029, 2041...Dog
2018, 2030, 2042...Pig
2019, 2031, 2043...Chinese Zodiac Compatibility
In Chinese astrology, compatibility between zodiac signs plays an important role in relationships. While all relationships require effort, two compatible signs are believed to have a stronger foundation, while incompatible signs may face more challenges.
Best Matches
Worst Matches
The Five Elements
Each zodiac sign is further influenced by one of five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. The element associated with your sign depends on your specific birth year and adds another dimension to your personality profile.
Wood
Growth, creativity, flexibility. Wood people are generous, cooperative, and idealistic.
Fire
Passion, energy, adventure. Fire people are dynamic, decisive, and confident leaders.
Earth
Stability, patience, honesty. Earth people are grounded, reliable, and nurturing.
Metal
Determination, ambition, rigidity. Metal people are resolute, self-reliant, and disciplined.
Water
Wisdom, intuition, adaptability. Water people are empathetic, persuasive, and observant.
Origins of the Chinese Zodiac
The origin of the Chinese zodiac is likely connected to animal worship in ancient history. Over time, a legendary story developed to explain how the 12 animals were chosen.
According to the legend, the Jade Emperor, ruler of the heavens, decided to select 12 animals to represent the passing of time. To be fair, he announced a great race across the celestial river. The first 12 animals to cross would each earn a year in the zodiac cycle.
The Rat and the Cat, who were best friends, agreed to wake up early and race together. But on the day of the race, the Rat left without waking the Cat. The clever Rat hitched a ride on the Ox's back, then leaped ahead at the finish line to claim first place. The Ox came second, followed by the Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.
By the time the Cat woke up, the race was long over. Furious at the Rat's betrayal, the Cat vowed that it and its descendants would chase rats for all eternity, which is said to be why cats and rats remain enemies to this day.
Significance in Chinese Culture
The 12 zodiac signs are deeply embedded in Chinese culture. People of all ages can recite the list and understand how their sign influences their choices in work, relationships, and lifestyle.
A person's zodiac sign is fixed at birth and determines their romantic compatibility with other signs. However, luck shifts each year depending on which zodiac governs that year. A person might find one year favorable for romance, another challenging for career, and so on. In this way, the zodiac system is dynamic and constantly moving forward with time.
Many traditions and customs are associated with the zodiac, including feng shui practices, naming conventions, and even timing major life decisions around favorable zodiac years.
Chinese Zodiac in Other Cultures
Chinese culture influenced many other Asian cultures, which adopted the zodiac animals and adapted them with local variations:
🇯🇵Japanese
Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Wild Boar
🇻🇳Vietnamese
Rat, Water Buffalo, Tiger, Cat, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig
🇲🇾Malay
Rat, Ox, Tiger, Mousedeer, Big Snake, Second Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Tortoise
🇹🇭Thai
Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Naga, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig
🇮🇷Persian
Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Whale, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig
🇰🇿Kazakh
Rat, Ox, Leopard, Rabbit, Snail, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig
Chinese Zodiac vs. Western Astrology
Both systems forecast personality and luck based on birthdays, but they differ in several key ways:
| Chinese Zodiac | Western Astrology | |
|---|---|---|
| Signs | 12 animals | 12 constellations |
| Cycle | 12-year rotation | Annual (monthly signs) |
| Calendar | Lunar calendar | Solar calendar |
| Similarity | Same birth year = similar traits | Same birth month = similar traits |
| Elements | 5 (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) | 4 (Fire, Earth, Air, Water) |
The 5 Elements
- Wood
- Fire
- Earth
- Metal
- Water