2023 Chinese Zodiac: Year of the Water Rabbit
癸卯 · 兔 Tù
2023 is the Year of the Water Rabbit (also called the Bunny). The Chinese year ran from Jan 22, 2023 to Feb 9, 2024, so anyone born in that span is a Water Rabbit. Born in January or early February? Lunar New Year fell on Jan 22, 2023, and earlier births belong to the Water Tiger year.
- Rabbit
- Water
- Yin
Born in 2023?
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.
2023 at a Glance
- Animal
- Rabbit 兔 tù
- Element
- Water
- Yin or Yang
- Yin
- Year name
- 癸卯 · sound element 金箔金
- Begins
- Sunday, Jan 22, 2023
- Ends
- Feb 9, 2024
- Age in 2026
- 2 or 3
- Next Rabbit year
- 2035
2023 Water Rabbit: Early-2024 Babies Too
The 2023 Rabbit year ran from Jan 22, 2023 to Feb 9, 2024. So a baby born in January or early February 2024, before the Dragon year began, is a Water Rabbit, which surprises parents who expected a Dragon.
2023 Rabbits turn 3 in 2026. In Chinese tradition the Rabbit is gentle and careful, and its first own sign year for these children comes in 2035.
Born in January or Early February 2023?
The Chinese year does not start on January 1. Lunar New Year 2023 was on Sunday, Jan 22, 2023, so births before that date belong to the year before.
| Born | Sign | Year name |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 to Jan 21, 2023 | Water Tiger | 壬寅 |
| Jan 22, 2023 to Feb 9, 2024 | Water Rabbit | 癸卯 |
So someone born on Jan 21, 2023 is a Water Tiger, and someone born on Jan 22, 2023 is a Water Rabbit. Dates are in China Standard Time.
What Is a Water Rabbit?
A Water Rabbit combines the Rabbit with the element of the birth year. 2023 ends in 3, which gives Water. The element repeats every 60 years, so other Water Rabbit years include 1903 and 1963.
How Old Is a 2023 Rabbit, and When Is the Next Rabbit Year?
Someone born in 2023 turns 3 in 2026 and 4 in 2027. The last Rabbit year was 2011, and the next is 2035. Your own sign year, called 本命年 (běnmìngnián), comes every 12 years. These are the Rabbit years a 2023 Rabbit lives through:
- 2023Water RabbitBornThis page
- 2035Wood RabbitTurns 12
2023 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 2023 Rabbit in 2026 and 2027
How the traditional rules link the Rabbit to the next two years, and how old a 2023 Rabbit will be.
2026, the Fire Horse Year: Needs Care
Turns 3. Link to the Horse: Break (破太岁).
2027, the Fire Goat Year: Supported
Turns 4. Link to the Goat: Trine partner (三合).
Nearby Years
The years just before and after 2023, and the other years of the decade.
- 2021 Chinese zodiacMetal OxFeb 12, 2021 to Jan 31, 2022
- 2022 Chinese zodiacWater TigerFeb 1, 2022 to Jan 21, 2023
- 2023Water RabbitJan 22, 2023 to Feb 9, 2024
- 2024 Chinese zodiacWood DragonFeb 10, 2024 to Jan 28, 2025
- 2025 Chinese zodiacWood SnakeJan 29, 2025 to Feb 16, 2026
Want every year on one sheet? Download the Chinese zodiac years chart PDF (A4, 1900 to 2035, with Lunar New Year dates).
2020 Chinese zodiac2021 Chinese zodiac2022 Chinese zodiac20232024 Chinese zodiac2025 Chinese zodiac2026 Chinese zodiac2028 Chinese zodiacAll Chinese zodiac years
2023 Chinese Zodiac FAQ
What Chinese zodiac is 2023?
2023 is the Year of the Water Rabbit (also called the Bunny). The Chinese year ran from Jan 22, 2023 to Feb 9, 2024.
What element is the 2023 Chinese zodiac?
Water. A year's element follows its last digit: 3 gives Water. The Rabbit's own fixed element is Wood, which is a different thing.
What Chinese zodiac is January 2023?
Lunar New Year 2023 fell on Sunday, Jan 22, 2023. Born from January 1 to Jan 21, 2023, you are a Water Tiger. From Jan 22, 2023, you are a Water Rabbit.
How old is someone born in 2023?
In 2026 they turn 3, or are 2 before their birthday. In 2027 they turn 4. Chinese tradition often counts age differently, adding one year at birth.
When is the next Rabbit year after 2023?
2035, the Year of the Wood Rabbit, begins on Feb 8, 2035.