Chinese Zodiac Signs
The Chinese zodiac is a 12-year cycle of animal signs, also called the Chinese star signs or the oriental zodiac. Each year belongs to one animal, from Rat to Pig, and each animal has its own element, years and character.
Find Your Sign
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.
The 12 Chinese Zodiac Animals
Pick a sign to see its personality, every year it returns, and its best and hardest matches.
- Rat鼠 shǔquick-wittedresourcefulcharming1996, 2008, 2020
- Ox (Cow)牛 niúdependablepatienthardworking1997, 2009, 2021
- Tiger虎 hǔbraveconfidentprotective1998, 2010, 2022
- Rabbit (Bunny)兔 tùgentleelegantthoughtful1999, 2011, 2023
- Dragon龙 lóngambitiousenergeticcharismatic2000, 2012, 2024
- Snake蛇 shéwiseintuitivecomposed2001, 2013, 2025
- Horse马 mǎfree-spiritedcheerfulenergetic2002, 2014, 2026
- Goat (Sheep / Ram)羊 yánggentlecalmcreative1991, 2003, 2015
- Monkey猴 hóuclevercuriousplayful1992, 2004, 2016
- Rooster (Chicken)鸡 jīobservanthardworkingprecise1993, 2005, 2017
- Dog狗 gǒuloyalhonestprotective1994, 2006, 2018
- Pig (Boar)猪 zhūgenerouseasygoingsincere1995, 2007, 2019
Chinese Zodiac Chart
The 12 signs with their elements, hours, months and years. Each sign returns every 12 years, and each year begins on Lunar New Year.
| Sign | Chinese | Own element | Yin or Yang | Hours | Month starts | Trine group | Recent years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rat | 鼠 shǔ | Water | Yang | 23:00 to 01:00 | About Dec 7 | Dragon, Monkey | 1996, 2008, 2020 |
| Ox | 牛 niú | Earth | Yin | 01:00 to 03:00 | About Jan 5 | Snake, Rooster | 1997, 2009, 2021 |
| Tiger | 虎 hǔ | Wood | Yang | 03:00 to 05:00 | About Feb 4 | Horse, Dog | 1998, 2010, 2022 |
| Rabbit | 兔 tù | Wood | Yin | 05:00 to 07:00 | About Mar 6 | Goat, Pig | 1999, 2011, 2023 |
| Dragon | 龙 lóng | Earth | Yang | 07:00 to 09:00 | About Apr 5 | Rat, Monkey | 2000, 2012, 2024 |
| Snake | 蛇 shé | Fire | Yin | 09:00 to 11:00 | About May 5 | Ox, Rooster | 2001, 2013, 2025 |
| Horse | 马 mǎ | Fire | Yang | 11:00 to 13:00 | About Jun 6 | Tiger, Dog | 2002, 2014, 2026 |
| Goat | 羊 yáng | Earth | Yin | 13:00 to 15:00 | About Jul 7 | Rabbit, Pig | 1991, 2003, 2015 |
| Monkey | 猴 hóu | Metal | Yang | 15:00 to 17:00 | About Aug 7 | Rat, Dragon | 1992, 2004, 2016 |
| Rooster | 鸡 jī | Metal | Yin | 17:00 to 19:00 | About Sep 8 | Ox, Snake | 1993, 2005, 2017 |
| Dog | 狗 gǒu | Earth | Yang | 19:00 to 21:00 | About Oct 8 | Tiger, Horse | 1994, 2006, 2018 |
| Pig | 猪 zhū | Water | Yin | 21:00 to 23:00 | About Nov 7 | Rabbit, Goat | 1995, 2007, 2019 |
Own element is fixed for each animal. The element of a birth year changes with the last digit of the year, so a Tiger can be a Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal or Water Tiger.
The Chinese Zodiac Wheel
The 12 animals sit on a wheel, Rat at the top. Switch the lines to see which signs tradition pairs and which it keeps apart.
Trine Groups 三合
Four groups of three signs, four years apart. Tradition says the three share a temperament and work well together.
- Rat, Dragon, Monkey
- Ox, Snake, Rooster
- Tiger, Horse, Dog
- Rabbit, Goat, Pig
Secret Friends 六合
Six pairs seen as natural allies, who bring out the best in each other.
- Rat and Ox
- Tiger and Pig
- Rabbit and Dog
- Dragon and Rooster
- Snake and Monkey
- Horse and Goat
Clashes 六冲
Signs directly opposite each other, six years apart. Tradition expects friction in style and pace.
- Rat and Horse
- Ox and Goat
- Tiger and Monkey
- Rabbit and Rooster
- Dragon and Dog
- Snake and Pig
Harms 六害
Six pairs where tradition expects slow wear and tension, not open conflict.
- Rat and Goat
- Ox and Horse
- Tiger and Snake
- Rabbit and Dragon
- Monkey and Pig
- Rooster and Dog
The Chinese Zodiac in Order
The order comes from the Great Race, a legend in which the Jade Emperor invited the animals to race across a river. The Rat finished first, riding on the Ox in a popular version, and the Pig came last.
The Cat is missing because, in one popular version, the Rat promised to wake it and did not. In the Vietnamese zodiac the Cat takes the Rabbit's place.
The Four Trine Groups
Animals four years apart form a trine group. In Chinese tradition they share a temperament, which is why they are seen as the best matches for each other.
Rat, Dragon, Monkey
Quick-witted, ambitious and inventive
Ox, Snake, Rooster
Steady, wise and hardworking
Tiger, Horse, Dog
Free-spirited, passionate and loyal
Rabbit, Goat, Pig
Gentle, kind and easygoing
Chinese Zodiac Symbols and Meanings
Each animal carries traditional symbols that show up in sayings, festivals and folk art.
Rat
Cleverness and abundance. First in the cycle, so it opens the year.
Ox
Hard work and farming. A steady partner who does not quit.
Tiger
Courage and protection. The stripes on its forehead read as 王, king.
Rabbit
Gentleness and the moon. The Jade Rabbit lives there.
Dragon
Power and good fortune. The symbol of the emperor.
Snake
Wisdom and grace. Sometimes called the little dragon.
Horse
Freedom and perseverance. 马到成功 wishes success on arrival.
Goat
Gentleness and good fortune. 羊 sits inside 美, 善 and 祥.
Monkey
Wit and agility. The Monkey King is its best-known figure.
Rooster
Punctuality and diligence. 鸡 sounds like 吉, lucky.
Dog
Loyalty and guarding the home. 旺 is both a bark and prosperity.
Pig
Wealth and plenty. The character 家, home, has a pig under the roof.
Other Names for the Chinese Zodiac
The System
In Chinese it is 生肖 (shēngxiào). English sites also call it the Chinese star signs, the oriental zodiac and the animal signs. They all mean the same 12-animal cycle.
The Animals
- Ox
- Cow. The character 牛 covers cattle in general.
- Rabbit
- Bunny. The character 兔 covers rabbits and hares.
- Goat
- Sheep or Ram. The character 羊 covers goats, sheep and rams.
- Rooster
- Chicken. The character 鸡 means chicken.
- Pig
- Boar. In Japan the same sign is a wild boar.
Chinese Zodiac FAQ
What is the Chinese zodiac?
A 12-year cycle in which each year is named for an animal: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. Each animal also has an element, traits and a place in a 60-year cycle.
How many animals are in the Chinese zodiac?
Twelve. They repeat in the same order every 12 years, so your sign comes round again on every 12th birth year.
What is the order of the Chinese zodiac?
Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig. The order comes from the legend of the Great Race, in which the animals finished a river race in this order.
Why is there no cat in the Chinese zodiac?
In one popular version the Rat promised to wake the Cat for the Great Race but let it sleep, so the Cat missed it. In the Vietnamese zodiac the Cat takes the Rabbit’s place.
Is the Chinese zodiac based on birth year or birth date?
Both. The animal belongs to a Chinese year, which begins on Lunar New Year between January 21 and February 20. If you were born in January or February, check your exact date with the calculator above.
How do I work out my sign from my birth year?
Subtract 4 and divide by 12. The remainder gives the animal: 0 Rat, 1 Ox, 2 Tiger, 3 Rabbit, 4 Dragon, 5 Snake, 6 Horse, 7 Goat, 8 Monkey, 9 Rooster, 10 Dog, 11 Pig. For 1998: 1994 divided by 12 leaves 2, the Tiger. Check January and February births against Lunar New Year.
What element does each sign have?
Each sign has its own fixed element, and each year also carries an element set by its last digit: 0 and 1 Metal, 2 and 3 Water, 4 and 5 Wood, 6 and 7 Fire, 8 and 9 Earth. Together with the 12 animals this makes a 60-year cycle.
Which Chinese zodiac signs are compatible?
Tradition uses four rules: trine groups, Secret Friends, clashes and harms. The wheel above shows all four, and each sign page lists its best and hardest matches.
Keep Exploring the Chinese Zodiac
- Chinese zodiac calculatorFind your sign from your birth date.
- Chinese zodiac yearsEvery year from 1900 to 2035, with dates.
- Chinese zodiac years chart PDFPrintable A4 chart, 1900 to 2035.
- Chinese zodiac elementsWood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.
- Chinese zodiac compatibilityHow any two signs match.
- Chinese zodiac enemy signsYour enemy sign and enemy years.
- 2027 Chinese zodiacThe Year of the Fire Goat for all 12 signs.
- Chinese New Year 2027The date, the 15 days and the greetings.
- Chinese zodiac blogLunar age, January births and more.