Today is Nov 1, 2026, the Year of the Fire Horse

Chinese Year Animals
水

Water Element in the Chinese Zodiac

水 shuǐ · Adaptability, intuition and reflection

Water stands for winter, depth and flow. People of the Water element are described as intuitive, flexible and good listeners, and they are said to hesitate, to drift with the current and to retreat when pressed. A year carries the Water element when it ends in 2 or 3, so the latest Water years were 2023, 2032 and 2033.

  • Water
  • Winter
  • North

Water at a Glance

Chinese
水 shuǐ
Years end in
2 or 3
Color
Black or dark blue
Direction
North
Season
Winter
Heavenly stems
壬 Rén, 癸 Guǐ
Feeds
Wood
Controls
Fire

The Twelve Water Signs

Each of the 12 animals has a Water year. Pick one for its personality, years and Lunar New Year dates.

Water Years, 1900 to 2035

Every year ending in 2 or 3, with its animal. The Chinese year begins on Lunar New Year, so the year runs from the date shown into the next calendar year.

  1. 1902Water TigerFrom Feb 8, 1902
  2. 1903Water RabbitFrom Jan 29, 1903
  3. 1912Water RatFrom Feb 18, 1912
  4. 1913Water OxFrom Feb 6, 1913
  5. 1922Water DogFrom Jan 28, 1922
  6. 1923Water PigFrom Feb 16, 1923
  7. 1932Water MonkeyFrom Feb 6, 1932
  8. 1933Water RoosterFrom Jan 26, 1933
  9. 1942Water HorseFrom Feb 15, 1942
  10. 1943Water GoatFrom Feb 5, 1943
  11. 1952 Chinese zodiacWater DragonFrom Jan 27, 1952
  12. 1953 Chinese zodiacWater SnakeFrom Feb 14, 1953
  13. 1962 Chinese zodiacWater TigerFrom Feb 5, 1962
  14. 1963 Chinese zodiacWater RabbitFrom Jan 25, 1963
  15. 1972 Chinese zodiacWater RatFrom Feb 15, 1972
  16. 1973 Chinese zodiacWater OxFrom Feb 3, 1973
  17. 1982 Chinese zodiacWater DogFrom Jan 25, 1982
  18. 1983 Chinese zodiacWater PigFrom Feb 13, 1983
  19. 1992 Chinese zodiacWater MonkeyFrom Feb 4, 1992
  20. 1993 Chinese zodiacWater RoosterFrom Jan 23, 1993
  21. 2002 Chinese zodiacWater HorseFrom Feb 12, 2002
  22. 2003 Chinese zodiacWater GoatFrom Feb 1, 2003
  23. 2012 Chinese zodiacWater DragonFrom Jan 23, 2012
  24. 2013 Chinese zodiacWater SnakeFrom Feb 10, 2013
  25. 2022 Chinese zodiacWater TigerFrom Feb 1, 2022
  26. 2023 Chinese zodiacWater RabbitFrom Jan 22, 2023
  27. 2032Water RatFrom Feb 11, 2032
  28. 2033Water OxFrom Jan 31, 2033

Every Chinese zodiac year with its dates

Water Years and Water Animals Are Not the Same

Two different things share the name. The year element follows the last digit of the birth year, so any animal can be a Water animal: a Water Tiger, a Water Dragon, a Water Pig. The animal's own element never changes. the Rat and the Pig are always Water, whatever year they are born.

When the two match, as in the Water Rat and the Water Pig, tradition says the Water nature is doubled.

Traits of the Water Element

Strengths

  • Adaptable
  • Perceptive
  • Diplomatic
  • Thoughtful

Challenges

  • Indecisive
  • Withdrawn
  • Moody

These are traditional descriptions of the element, and every sign adds its own character.

How Water Relates to the Other Elements

  • Metal feeds WaterIn the generating cycle, Metal supports Water.
  • Water feeds WoodWater in turn supports Wood.
  • Water controls FireIn the controlling cycle, Water holds Fire in check.
  • Earth controls WaterEarth is the element that keeps Water in balance.

The Five Elements

Water Element FAQ

What years are Water years in the Chinese zodiac?

Years that end in 2 or 3. Recent Water years include 2022, 2023, 2032 and 2033. Each Chinese year begins on Lunar New Year, so a birth in January or early February may belong to the year before.

What animals are Water signs?

Every animal has Water years. They are the Water Rat, Water Ox, Water Tiger and so on through the Water Pig, and each comes round every 60 years. The animals whose own, fixed element is Water are the Rat and Pig.

What is the difference between a Water year and a Water animal?

The element of a year follows its last digit, so any animal can be a Water animal in the right year. The animal's own element never changes: the Rat and the Pig are always Water. They are two separate things.

What does Water mean in Chinese astrology?

Water stands for winter, depth and flow. Its color is black or dark blue, its direction is north and its season is winter.

What element feeds and controls Water?

Metal feeds Water, and Water feeds Wood. Earth controls Water, and Water controls Fire.