Chinese zodiac
Start with your birthday. Discover your animal, explore its story, and find a little connection in a tradition shared across generations.
YOUR STORY STARTS HERE
YOUR RESULT
01 / Meet the twelve
Choose an animal to explore its meaning, Chinese name and years.
The Rat
The Rat begins the twelve-animal cycle. Folklore often associates it with quick thinking and adaptability.
Say it in Chinese
我属鼠。
“I was born in the Year of the Rat.”
The Ox
The Ox is associated with patient work and perseverance, reflecting its longstanding role in farming.
Say it in Chinese
我属牛。
“I was born in the Year of the Ox.”
The Tiger
The Tiger commonly represents courage and protective strength in Chinese art and storytelling.
Say it in Chinese
我属虎。
“I was born in the Year of the Tiger.”
The Rabbit
The Rabbit is often linked with gentleness. The moon rabbit is a separate, familiar figure in Chinese folklore.
Say it in Chinese
我属兔。
“I was born in the Year of the Rabbit.”
The Dragon
The Chinese dragon is a mythical creature associated with rain, vitality and auspicious power.
Say it in Chinese
我属龙。
“I was born in the Year of the Dragon.”
The Snake
The Snake is traditionally associated with thoughtfulness and intuition. These are cultural associations, not personality measurements.
Say it in Chinese
我属蛇。
“I was born in the Year of the Snake.”
The Horse
The Horse often represents energy and forward movement. Horses have a long presence in Chinese painting and poetry.
Say it in Chinese
我属马。
“I was born in the Year of the Horse.”
The Goat
Yáng can refer to a goat or sheep; English lists may also say Ram. The sign is often linked with kindness and harmony.
Say it in Chinese
我属羊。
“I was born in the Year of the Goat.”
The Monkey
The Monkey is often associated with cleverness and playfulness, familiar qualities in Chinese storytelling.
Say it in Chinese
我属猴。
“I was born in the Year of the Monkey.”
The Rooster
The Rooster is linked with watchfulness and the arrival of a new day. Jī is the general Chinese word for chicken.
Say it in Chinese
我属鸡。
“I was born in the Year of the Rooster.”
The Dog
The Dog commonly symbolizes loyalty and companionship in popular accounts of the zodiac.
Say it in Chinese
我属狗。
“I was born in the Year of the Dog.”
The Pig
The Pig completes the twelve-animal cycle and is often associated with abundance and generosity.
Say it in Chinese
我属猪。
“I was born in the Year of the Pig.”
Traits are traditional cultural associations. Each person has their own story.
02 / Better acquainted
Explore the folklore behind zodiac compatibility with a friend, partner or someone you’re curious about.
A conversation starter from tradition. Real connection is something you make together.
Don’t know your animal? Find it ↑Dragon & Monkey
Rat, Dragon, Monkey form one of the four traditional groups of three. In zodiac folklore, these signs are considered congenial companions. Their positions are four steps apart in the cycle.
DragonVital & imaginative
MonkeyCurious & inventive
Based on the four traditional groups and opposing signs. Interpretations vary.
03 / Beyond your animal
The animal repeats every 12 years. The same animal and year element meet again every 60.
Lunar year ends in 4 or 5
2024 · 2025
Lunar year ends in 6 or 7
2026 · 2027
Lunar year ends in 8 or 9
2028 · 2029
Lunar year ends in 0 or 1
2030 · 2031
Lunar year ends in 2 or 3
2032 · 2033
Each element covers two consecutive heavenly stems. Wood gives way to Fire, then Earth, Metal and Water before the sequence starts again.
Use your lunar year from the calculator, especially for January and February birthdays. This is the year element, one part of the calendar, rather than a full birth chart.
Explore the calendar’s heavenly stems and earthly branches ↗
04 / A story to take with you
In a popular tale, the Jade Emperor holds a race to decide the animals’ order. Rat catches a ride across the river on Ox, then slips ahead at the finish.
The smallest competitor takes the first place. Ox comes second, and the rest follow in the familiar twelve-animal sequence.
In one version, Rat pushes Cat into the river, so Cat misses the finish. Other tellings differ. The race is folklore, with many versions, rather than a historical account.
A few things worth knowing
The lunar year begins at Chinese New Year. A birthday before that date belongs to the previous lunar year. For example, February 9, 2024 is in the Water Rabbit year; February 10 starts the Wood Dragon year. Use the full birthday calculator above to check the boundary.
Some astrology and Bāzì systems change the year at Lìchūn, a solar term around early February. This site uses Lunar New Year for the animal and year element throughout. The two conventions can give different answers near their boundaries.
Běnmìngnián (本命年) is a year with the same zodiac animal as your birth year. It returns every twelve years. Wearing something red is one familiar custom associated with it; practices differ among families and communities.
All three English names refer to 羊 (yáng), the eighth animal. The Chinese word covers sheep and goats, so translations and artistic depictions vary. We use Goat consistently on this site.
Animal traits and pairings are part of cultural storytelling, not validated measures of an individual. Use them to explore traditions and start conversations. Real relationships depend on the people involved.
