2009 Chinese Zodiac: Year of the Earth Ox
己丑 · 牛 Niú
2009 is the Year of the Earth Ox (also called the Cow). The Chinese year ran from Jan 26, 2009 to Feb 13, 2010, so anyone born in that span is an Earth Ox. Born in January or early February? Lunar New Year fell on Jan 26, 2009, and earlier births belong to the Earth Rat year.
- Ox
- Earth
- Yin
Born in 2009?
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.
2009 at a Glance
- Animal
- Ox 牛 niú
- Element
- Earth
- Yin or Yang
- Yin
- Year name
- 己丑 · sound element 霹雳火
- Begins
- Monday, Jan 26, 2009
- Ends
- Feb 13, 2010
- Age in 2026
- 16 or 17
- Next Ox year
- 2021
2009 Earth Ox: A Year That Reached Into 2010
The 2009 Ox year started on Jan 26, 2009 and did not hand over to the Tiger until the day after Feb 13, 2010. That leaves about six weeks of 2010 birthdays in the Ox year, which catches out charts that list 2010 simply as a Tiger year.
2009 Oxen turn 17 in 2026 and 18 in 2027, and their next Ox year, 2033, comes at 24.
Born in January or Early February 2009?
The Chinese year does not start on January 1. Lunar New Year 2009 was on Monday, Jan 26, 2009, so births before that date belong to the year before.
| Born | Sign | Year name |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 to Jan 25, 2009 | Earth Rat | 戊子 |
| Jan 26, 2009 to Feb 13, 2010 | Earth Ox | 己丑 |
So someone born on Jan 25, 2009 is an Earth Rat, and someone born on Jan 26, 2009 is an Earth Ox. Dates are in China Standard Time.
What Is an Earth Ox?
An Earth Ox combines the Ox with the element of the birth year. 2009 ends in 9, which gives Earth. The element repeats every 60 years, so other Earth Ox years include 1949.
How Old Is a 2009 Ox, and When Is the Next Ox Year?
Someone born in 2009 turns 17 in 2026 and 18 in 2027. The last Ox year was 1997, and the next is 2021. Your own sign year, called 本命年 (běnmìngnián), comes every 12 years. These are the Ox years a 2009 Ox lives through:
- 2009Earth OxBornThis page
- 2021 Chinese zodiacMetal OxTurns 12
- 2033Water OxTurns 24
2009 Ox Compatibility: Best and Hardest Matches
Compatibility follows the animal, not the element. Tradition favors the signs in the Ox's trine group and its Secret Friend, and is cautious about the opposite sign and the harm pair.
The 2009 Ox in 2026 and 2027
How the traditional rules link the Ox to the next two years, and how old a 2009 Ox will be.
2026, the Fire Horse Year: Needs Care
Turns 17. Link to the Horse: Harm (害太岁).
2027, the Fire Goat Year: Needs Care
Turns 18. Link to the Goat: Clash (冲太岁), Punishment (刑太岁).
Nearby Years
The years just before and after 2009, and the other years of the decade.
- 2007 Chinese zodiacFire PigFeb 18, 2007 to Feb 6, 2008
- 2008 Chinese zodiacEarth RatFeb 7, 2008 to Jan 25, 2009
- 2009Earth OxJan 26, 2009 to Feb 13, 2010
- 2010 Chinese zodiacMetal TigerFeb 14, 2010 to Feb 2, 2011
- 2011 Chinese zodiacMetal RabbitFeb 3, 2011 to Jan 22, 2012
Want every year on one sheet? Download the Chinese zodiac years chart PDF (A4, 1900 to 2035, with Lunar New Year dates).
2000 Chinese zodiac2001 Chinese zodiac2002 Chinese zodiac2003 Chinese zodiac2004 Chinese zodiac2005 Chinese zodiac2006 Chinese zodiac2007 Chinese zodiac2008 Chinese zodiac2009All Chinese zodiac years
2009 Chinese Zodiac FAQ
What Chinese zodiac is 2009?
2009 is the Year of the Earth Ox (also called the Cow). The Chinese year ran from Jan 26, 2009 to Feb 13, 2010.
What element is the 2009 Chinese zodiac?
Earth. A year's element follows its last digit: 9 gives Earth. The Ox's own fixed element is Earth, which is a different thing.
What Chinese zodiac is January 2009?
Lunar New Year 2009 fell on Monday, Jan 26, 2009. Born from January 1 to Jan 25, 2009, you are an Earth Rat. From Jan 26, 2009, you are an Earth Ox.
How old is someone born in 2009?
In 2026 they turn 17, or are 16 before their birthday. In 2027 they turn 18. Chinese tradition often counts age differently, adding one year at birth.
When is the next Ox year after 2009?
2021, the Year of the Metal Ox, begins on Feb 12, 2021.