1987 Chinese Zodiac: Year of the Fire Rabbit
丁卯 · 兔 Tù
1987 is the Year of the Fire Rabbit (also called the Bunny). The Chinese year ran from Jan 29, 1987 to Feb 16, 1988, so anyone born in that span is a Fire Rabbit. Born in January or early February? Lunar New Year fell on Jan 29, 1987, and earlier births belong to the Fire Tiger year.
- Rabbit
- Fire
- Yin
Born in 1987?
Enter your birth date to check, down to the exact Lunar New Year.
Month and day are optional. Add them if you were born in January or February. See January and February Chinese zodiac.
1987 at a Glance
- Animal
- Rabbit 兔 tù
- Element
- Fire
- Yin or Yang
- Yin
- Year name
- 丁卯 · sound element 炉中火
- Begins
- Thursday, Jan 29, 1987
- Ends
- Feb 16, 1988
- Age in 2026
- 38 or 39
- Next Rabbit year
- 1999
1987 Fire Rabbit, Sign of the East
In Chinese tradition each animal also marks a direction and a season, and the Rabbit stands for the east and the middle of spring. A 1987 Rabbit turns 39 in 2026.
The 1987 year started on Jan 29, 1987 and kept going until Feb 16, 1988, which is why a February 1988 birthday up to mid-month is still a Fire Rabbit. Births before Jan 29, 1987 are Fire Tigers.
Born in January or Early February 1987?
The Chinese year does not start on January 1. Lunar New Year 1987 was on Thursday, Jan 29, 1987, so births before that date belong to the year before.
| Born | Sign | Year name |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 to Jan 28, 1987 | Fire Tiger | 丙寅 |
| Jan 29, 1987 to Feb 16, 1988 | Fire Rabbit | 丁卯 |
So someone born on Jan 28, 1987 is a Fire Tiger, and someone born on Jan 29, 1987 is a Fire Rabbit. Dates are in China Standard Time.
What Is a Fire Rabbit?
A Fire Rabbit combines the Rabbit with the element of the birth year. 1987 ends in 7, which gives Fire. The element repeats every 60 years, so other Fire Rabbit years include 1927.
How Old Is a 1987 Rabbit, and When Is the Next Rabbit Year?
Someone born in 1987 turns 39 in 2026 and 40 in 2027. The last Rabbit year was 1975, and the next is 1999. Your own sign year, called 本命年 (běnmìngnián), comes every 12 years. These are the Rabbit years a 1987 Rabbit lives through:
- 1987Fire RabbitBornThis page
- 1999 Chinese zodiacEarth RabbitTurns 12
- 2011 Chinese zodiacMetal RabbitTurns 24
- 2023 Chinese zodiacWater RabbitTurns 36
- 2035Wood RabbitTurns 48
1987 Rabbit Compatibility: Best and Hardest Matches
Compatibility follows the animal, not the element. Tradition favors the signs in the Rabbit's trine group and its Secret Friend, and is cautious about the opposite sign and the harm pair.
The 1987 Rabbit in 2026 and 2027
How the traditional rules link the Rabbit to the next two years, and how old a 1987 Rabbit will be.
2026, the Fire Horse Year: Needs Care
Turns 39. Link to the Horse: Break (破太岁).
2027, the Fire Goat Year: Supported
Turns 40. Link to the Goat: Trine partner (三合).
Nearby Years
The years just before and after 1987, and the other years of the decade.
- 1985 Chinese zodiacWood OxFeb 20, 1985 to Feb 8, 1986
- 1986 Chinese zodiacFire TigerFeb 9, 1986 to Jan 28, 1987
- 1987Fire RabbitJan 29, 1987 to Feb 16, 1988
- 1988 Chinese zodiacEarth DragonFeb 17, 1988 to Feb 5, 1989
- 1989 Chinese zodiacEarth SnakeFeb 6, 1989 to Jan 26, 1990
Want every year on one sheet? Download the Chinese zodiac years chart PDF (A4, 1900 to 2035, with Lunar New Year dates).
1980 Chinese zodiac1981 Chinese zodiac1982 Chinese zodiac1983 Chinese zodiac1984 Chinese zodiac1985 Chinese zodiac1986 Chinese zodiac19871988 Chinese zodiac1989 Chinese zodiacAll Chinese zodiac years
1987 Chinese Zodiac FAQ
What Chinese zodiac is 1987?
1987 is the Year of the Fire Rabbit (also called the Bunny). The Chinese year ran from Jan 29, 1987 to Feb 16, 1988.
What element is the 1987 Chinese zodiac?
Fire. A year's element follows its last digit: 7 gives Fire. The Rabbit's own fixed element is Wood, which is a different thing.
What Chinese zodiac is January 1987?
Lunar New Year 1987 fell on Thursday, Jan 29, 1987. Born from January 1 to Jan 28, 1987, you are a Fire Tiger. From Jan 29, 1987, you are a Fire Rabbit.
How old is someone born in 1987?
In 2026 they turn 39, or are 38 before their birthday. In 2027 they turn 40. Chinese tradition often counts age differently, adding one year at birth.
When is the next Rabbit year after 1987?
1999, the Year of the Earth Rabbit, begins on Feb 16, 1999.