Enter your birthday to find your animal, its element and your year in the sixty-year cycle. The Lunar New Year moves between January 21 and February 20, so early-year birthdays are checked against the exact date.
Enter a birth date to see your Chinese zodiac animal and element.
Enter your birth date. That is all the calculator needs.
Press Find my Chinese zodiac sign to see your animal, its element, yin or yang, and the dates of your Chinese year.
Born in January or February? The result says whether your birthday came before or after that year's Lunar New Year.
See your best matches and your animal's years, then compare every pair in the compatibility chart.
Each animal with the years it ruled between 1924 and 2043, the element of each and the day each year began, the Lunar New Year. A birthday before that day belongs to the animal of the year before.
鼠 shǔ · fixed element Water · yang
The Rat is associated with people who are quick-witted, resourceful, adaptable and thrifty.
Rat years: 1924 Wood (from Feb 5); 1936 Fire (from Jan 24); 1948 Earth (from Feb 10); 1960 Metal (from Jan 28); 1972 Water (from Feb 15); 1984 Wood (from Feb 2); 1996 Fire (from Feb 19); 2008 Earth (from Feb 7); 2020 Metal (from Jan 25); 2032 Water (from Feb 11)
牛 niú · fixed element Earth · yin
The Ox is associated with people who are diligent, dependable, patient and determined.
Ox years: 1925 Wood (from Jan 24); 1937 Fire (from Feb 11); 1949 Earth (from Jan 29); 1961 Metal (from Feb 15); 1973 Water (from Feb 3); 1985 Wood (from Feb 20); 1997 Fire (from Feb 7); 2009 Earth (from Jan 26); 2021 Metal (from Feb 12); 2033 Water (from Jan 31)
虎 hǔ · fixed element Wood · yang
The Tiger is associated with people who are brave, competitive, confident and unpredictable.
Tiger years: 1926 Fire (from Feb 13); 1938 Earth (from Jan 31); 1950 Metal (from Feb 17); 1962 Water (from Feb 5); 1974 Wood (from Jan 23); 1986 Fire (from Feb 9); 1998 Earth (from Jan 28); 2010 Metal (from Feb 14); 2022 Water (from Feb 1); 2034 Wood (from Feb 19)
兔 tù · fixed element Wood · yin
The Rabbit is associated with people who are gentle, elegant, careful and kind.
Rabbit years: 1927 Fire (from Feb 2); 1939 Earth (from Feb 19); 1951 Metal (from Feb 6); 1963 Water (from Jan 25); 1975 Wood (from Feb 11); 1987 Fire (from Jan 29); 1999 Earth (from Feb 16); 2011 Metal (from Feb 3); 2023 Water (from Jan 22); 2035 Wood (from Feb 8)
龙 lóng · fixed element Earth · yang
The Dragon is associated with people who are confident, ambitious, energetic and charismatic.
Dragon years: 1928 Earth (from Jan 23); 1940 Metal (from Feb 8); 1952 Water (from Jan 27); 1964 Wood (from Feb 13); 1976 Fire (from Jan 31); 1988 Earth (from Feb 17); 2000 Metal (from Feb 5); 2012 Water (from Jan 23); 2024 Wood (from Feb 10); 2036 Fire (from Jan 28)
蛇 shé · fixed element Fire · yin
The Snake is associated with people who are wise, intuitive, private and determined.
Snake years: 1929 Earth (from Feb 10); 1941 Metal (from Jan 27); 1953 Water (from Feb 14); 1965 Wood (from Feb 2); 1977 Fire (from Feb 18); 1989 Earth (from Feb 6); 2001 Metal (from Jan 24); 2013 Water (from Feb 10); 2025 Wood (from Jan 29); 2037 Fire (from Feb 15)
马 mǎ · fixed element Fire · yang
The Horse is associated with people who are energetic, free-spirited, warm and restless.
Horse years: 1930 Metal (from Jan 30); 1942 Water (from Feb 15); 1954 Wood (from Feb 3); 1966 Fire (from Jan 21); 1978 Earth (from Feb 7); 1990 Metal (from Jan 27); 2002 Water (from Feb 12); 2014 Wood (from Jan 31); 2026 Fire (from Feb 17); 2038 Earth (from Feb 4)
羊 yáng · fixed element Earth · yin
The Goat is associated with people who are gentle, creative, compassionate and calm.
Goat years: 1931 Metal (from Feb 17); 1943 Water (from Feb 5); 1955 Wood (from Jan 24); 1967 Fire (from Feb 9); 1979 Earth (from Jan 28); 1991 Metal (from Feb 15); 2003 Water (from Feb 1); 2015 Wood (from Feb 19); 2027 Fire (from Feb 6); 2039 Earth (from Jan 24)
猴 hóu · fixed element Metal · yang
The Monkey is associated with people who are clever, curious, playful and inventive.
Monkey years: 1932 Water (from Feb 6); 1944 Wood (from Jan 25); 1956 Fire (from Feb 12); 1968 Earth (from Jan 30); 1980 Metal (from Feb 16); 1992 Water (from Feb 4); 2004 Wood (from Jan 22); 2016 Fire (from Feb 8); 2028 Earth (from Jan 26); 2040 Metal (from Feb 12)
鸡 jī · fixed element Metal · yin
The Rooster is associated with people who are observant, hardworking, confident and frank.
Rooster years: 1933 Water (from Jan 26); 1945 Wood (from Feb 13); 1957 Fire (from Jan 31); 1969 Earth (from Feb 17); 1981 Metal (from Feb 5); 1993 Water (from Jan 23); 2005 Wood (from Feb 9); 2017 Fire (from Jan 28); 2029 Earth (from Feb 13); 2041 Metal (from Feb 1)
狗 gǒu · fixed element Earth · yang
The Dog is associated with people who are loyal, honest, protective and fair.
Dog years: 1934 Wood (from Feb 14); 1946 Fire (from Feb 2); 1958 Earth (from Feb 18); 1970 Metal (from Feb 6); 1982 Water (from Jan 25); 1994 Wood (from Feb 10); 2006 Fire (from Jan 29); 2018 Earth (from Feb 16); 2030 Metal (from Feb 3); 2042 Water (from Jan 22)
猪 zhū · fixed element Water · yin
The Pig is associated with people who are generous, sincere, easy-going and warm.
Pig years: 1935 Wood (from Feb 4); 1947 Fire (from Jan 22); 1959 Earth (from Feb 8); 1971 Metal (from Jan 27); 1983 Water (from Feb 13); 1995 Wood (from Jan 31); 2007 Fire (from Feb 18); 2019 Earth (from Feb 5); 2031 Metal (from Jan 23); 2043 Water (from Feb 10)
The Chinese zodiac gives each year an animal, and your sign is the animal of the Chinese year you were born in. That year does not start on January 1. It starts at the Lunar New Year, the first day of the first month of the Chinese calendar, which falls on a new moon between January 21 and February 20. Between 1930 and 2040 it came in January in 40 years and in February in 71.
So the only birthdays that need care are in January and February. The calculator finds the new year the way the Chinese calendar itself does: month eleven is the lunar month that holds the winter solstice, and the new year is the second new moon after it, or the third when a leap month falls in between. Between 1900 and 2099 that happens once: a leap month at the end of 2033 moves the 2034 new year to February 19. It works from the true positions of the Sun and the Moon, dated in China (Beijing time; before 1929, Beijing's local mean time), and its dates match the published calendar for every year from 1900 to 2099. A birthday before the new year belongs to the animal of the year before.
The animals always come in the same order, and each returns every twelve years: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. Folk tales explain the order with a great race called by the Jade Emperor, which the clever Rat won by riding on the Ox and jumping ahead at the finish.
| Animal | Recent years | Traditionally associated with |
|---|---|---|
| Rat (鼠) | 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020, 2032 | Quick wits, resourcefulness, thrift |
| Ox (牛) | 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021, 2033 | Diligence, patience, dependability |
| Tiger (虎) | 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022, 2034 | Courage, competitiveness, confidence |
| Rabbit (兔) | 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023, 2035 | Gentleness, elegance, care |
| Dragon (龙) | 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024, 2036 | Ambition, energy, charisma |
| Snake (蛇) | 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025, 2037 | Wisdom, intuition, privacy |
| Horse (马) | 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026, 2038 | Energy, freedom, warmth |
| Goat (羊) | 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027, 2039 | Creativity, compassion, calm |
| Monkey (猴) | 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028, 2040 | Cleverness, curiosity, invention |
| Rooster (鸡) | 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029, 2041 | Observation, hard work, frankness |
| Dog (狗) | 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030, 2042 | Loyalty, honesty, fairness |
| Pig (猪) | 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031, 2043 | Generosity, sincerity, warmth |
Each year listed begins at its Lunar New Year; the cards below give the exact day for every year from 1924 to 2043. The Goat is also called the Sheep or the Ram, since the Chinese word, 羊 (yáng), covers all three.
Each year also has one of five elements, Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water, and each element rules two years in a row: first its yang year, then its yin year. The last digit of the Chinese year gives the element away.
Twelve animals and five elements make a cycle of sixty years, each with its own name in Chinese from a heavenly stem and an earthly branch: 2024 was 甲辰 (jiǎchén), the Wood Dragon, and the Fire Horse year that began on February 17, 2026 is 丙午 (bǐngwǔ). The calculator shows your year's name and its place in the cycle. Each animal also has a fixed element of its own (the Rat is Water, the Horse Fire), which astrologers use alongside the year's.
Tradition reads compatibility by animal. The four trios of allies are animals four years apart, read as sharing outlook and pace. The six pairs of secret friends are read as quietly supportive. The opposites, six years apart, are read as the strongest clash, and six more pairs as harming each other through misunderstanding. The chart below shows every pair. Astrologers treat these as tendencies: the elements, the whole birth date and, of course, the people themselves count for more.
For Western astrology's version, which compares Sun, Moon, Venus and Mars signs, use the zodiac compatibility calculator.
Four Pillars astrology (BaZi), which builds a reading from the year, month, day and hour of birth, starts its year at Lichun instead: the start of spring in the Chinese solar calendar, when the Sun reaches 315° along the ecliptic, on February 3, 4 or 5. For a birthday between Lichun and the Lunar New Year the two methods give different animals. The zodiac people use every day follows the Lunar New Year, and so does this calculator's main result; when the Four Pillars year differs, it says so, with the moment of Lichun.
The two zodiacs measure different things. Everyone born in the same Chinese year shares an animal, while your Western zodiac sign comes from the Sun's position on your birthday and changes about once a month. Your Moon and rising signs and your whole birth chart narrow it down to the day and the minute.
Every pair of animals as tradition reads them. Find one animal in the rows and the other in the columns.
| Animal | RatRat | OxOx | TigTiger | RabRabbit | DraDragon | SnaSnake | HorHorse | GoaGoat | MonMonkey | RooRooster | DogDog | PigPig |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rat | Same | Friends | Neutral | Neutral | Best | Neutral | Clash | Harm | Best | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| Ox | Friends | Same | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Best | Harm | Clash | Neutral | Best | Neutral | Neutral |
| Tiger | Neutral | Neutral | Same | Neutral | Neutral | Harm | Best | Neutral | Clash | Neutral | Best | Friends |
| Rabbit | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Same | Harm | Neutral | Neutral | Best | Neutral | Clash | Friends | Best |
| Dragon | Best | Neutral | Neutral | Harm | Same | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Best | Friends | Clash | Neutral |
| Snake | Neutral | Best | Harm | Neutral | Neutral | Same | Neutral | Neutral | Friends | Best | Neutral | Clash |
| Horse | Clash | Harm | Best | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Same | Friends | Neutral | Neutral | Best | Neutral |
| Goat | Harm | Clash | Neutral | Best | Neutral | Neutral | Friends | Same | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Best |
| Monkey | Best | Neutral | Clash | Neutral | Best | Friends | Neutral | Neutral | Same | Neutral | Neutral | Harm |
| Rooster | Neutral | Best | Neutral | Clash | Friends | Best | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Same | Harm | Neutral |
| Dog | Neutral | Neutral | Best | Friends | Clash | Neutral | Best | Neutral | Neutral | Harm | Same | Neutral |
| Pig | Neutral | Neutral | Friends | Best | Neutral | Clash | Neutral | Best | Harm | Neutral | Neutral | Same |
Because the Chinese year starts at the Lunar New Year, not on January 1. The new year falls between January 21 and February 20, so anyone born in January, or in February before the new year, belongs to the animal of the year before. Someone born on January 1, 2000 is an Earth Rabbit, not a Metal Dragon: the Dragon year began on February 5, 2000.
Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. Each rules two years in a row, and the last digit of the year gives it away: years ending in 4 or 5 are Wood, 6 or 7 Fire, 8 or 9 Earth, 0 or 1 Metal and 2 or 3 Water. Twelve animals times five elements make the sixty-year cycle.
Tradition reads the animals four years apart as natural allies, in four trios: Rat, Dragon and Monkey; Ox, Snake and Rooster; Tiger, Horse and Dog; Rabbit, Goat and Pig. Six pairs are secret friends (such as Rat and Ox), and the animals six years apart are opposites that clash (such as Rat and Horse).
In Four Pillars (BaZi) astrology it does, roughly: that system starts the year at Lichun, the start of spring, when the Sun reaches 315° along the ecliptic, on February 3, 4 or 5. The zodiac most people use follows the lunar calendar and starts at the Lunar New Year. The calculator gives both when they differ.
No. The Chinese zodiac is a cycle of years, so everyone born in the same Chinese year shares an animal. Your Western zodiac sign comes from where the Sun was on your birthday and changes about once a month; the zodiac sign calculator finds it.