2012 Chinese Zodiac: Year of the Water Dragon
壬辰 · 龙 Lóng
2012 is the Year of the Water Dragon. The Chinese year ran from Jan 23, 2012 to Feb 9, 2013, so anyone born in that span is a Water Dragon. Born in January or early February? Lunar New Year fell on Jan 23, 2012, and earlier births belong to the Metal Rabbit year.
- Dragon
- Water
- Yang
Born in 2012?
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.
2012 at a Glance
- Animal
- Dragon 龙 lóng
- Element
- Water
- Yin or Yang
- Yang
- Year name
- 壬辰 · sound element 长流水
- Begins
- Monday, Jan 23, 2012
- Ends
- Feb 9, 2013
- Age in 2026
- 13 or 14
- Next Dragon year
- 2024
2012 Water Dragon: A Popular Birth Year
In Chinese communities, Dragon years have long been a favored time to have a baby, since the Dragon is the only legendary creature among the twelve and stands for strength and good fortune in Chinese tradition.
The 2012 Dragon year began on Jan 23, 2012 and ended on Feb 9, 2013. Births before Jan 23, 2012 belong to the Metal Rabbit year. 2012 Dragons turn 14 in 2026, and their next Dragon year, 2036, arrives when they turn 24.
Born in January or Early February 2012?
The Chinese year does not start on January 1. Lunar New Year 2012 was on Monday, Jan 23, 2012, so births before that date belong to the year before.
| Born | Sign | Year name |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 to Jan 22, 2012 | Metal Rabbit | 辛卯 |
| Jan 23, 2012 to Feb 9, 2013 | Water Dragon | 壬辰 |
So someone born on Jan 22, 2012 is a Metal Rabbit, and someone born on Jan 23, 2012 is a Water Dragon. Dates are in China Standard Time.
What Is a Water Dragon?
A Water Dragon combines the Dragon with the element of the birth year. 2012 ends in 2, which gives Water. The element repeats every 60 years, so other Water Dragon years include 1952.
How Old Is a 2012 Dragon, and When Is the Next Dragon Year?
Someone born in 2012 turns 14 in 2026 and 15 in 2027. The last Dragon year was 2000, and the next is 2024. Your own sign year, called 本命年 (běnmìngnián), comes every 12 years. These are the Dragon years a 2012 Dragon lives through:
- 2012Water DragonBornThis page
- 2024 Chinese zodiacWood DragonTurns 12
- 2036Fire DragonTurns 24
2012 Dragon Compatibility: Best and Hardest Matches
Compatibility follows the animal, not the element. Tradition favors the signs in the Dragon's trine group and its Secret Friend, and is cautious about the opposite sign and the harm pair.
The 2012 Dragon in 2026 and 2027
How the traditional rules link the Dragon to the next two years, and how old a 2012 Dragon will be.
2026, the Fire Horse Year: Steady
Turns 14. No formal link to the Horse in the traditional rules.
2027, the Fire Goat Year: Steady
Turns 15. No formal link to the Goat in the traditional rules.
Nearby Years
The years just before and after 2012, and the other years of the decade.
- 2010 Chinese zodiacMetal TigerFeb 14, 2010 to Feb 2, 2011
- 2011 Chinese zodiacMetal RabbitFeb 3, 2011 to Jan 22, 2012
- 2012Water DragonJan 23, 2012 to Feb 9, 2013
- 2013 Chinese zodiacWater SnakeFeb 10, 2013 to Jan 30, 2014
- 2014 Chinese zodiacWood HorseJan 31, 2014 to Feb 18, 2015
Want every year on one sheet? Download the Chinese zodiac years chart PDF (A4, 1900 to 2035, with Lunar New Year dates).
2010 Chinese zodiac2011 Chinese zodiac20122013 Chinese zodiac2014 Chinese zodiac2015 Chinese zodiac2016 Chinese zodiac2017 Chinese zodiac2018 Chinese zodiac2019 Chinese zodiacAll Chinese zodiac years
2012 Chinese Zodiac FAQ
What Chinese zodiac is 2012?
2012 is the Year of the Water Dragon. The Chinese year ran from Jan 23, 2012 to Feb 9, 2013.
What element is the 2012 Chinese zodiac?
Water. A year's element follows its last digit: 2 gives Water. The Dragon's own fixed element is Earth, which is a different thing.
What Chinese zodiac is January 2012?
Lunar New Year 2012 fell on Monday, Jan 23, 2012. Born from January 1 to Jan 22, 2012, you are a Metal Rabbit. From Jan 23, 2012, you are a Water Dragon.
How old is someone born in 2012?
In 2026 they turn 14, or are 13 before their birthday. In 2027 they turn 15. Chinese tradition often counts age differently, adding one year at birth.
When is the next Dragon year after 2012?
2024, the Year of the Wood Dragon, begins on Feb 10, 2024.