The Chinese Zodiac: All 12 Animal Signs
Discover your Chinese zodiac animal — based on your birth year. Each of the 12 animals has its own personality, compatibility, lucky numbers, and famous people. Click any animal below to read your full profile.
The Chinese zodiac (生肖, shēngxiào) is a 12-year cycle, with each year associated with one of twelve animals. Unlike Western astrology, which is based on the month of birth, the Chinese zodiac is determined by the lunar year of your birth. Your zodiac animal reflects your personality, your compatibility with others, your lucky numbers, and even your career strengths. The 12 animals — Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig — each carry distinctive energetic archetypes that have shaped Chinese astrology for over 2,000 years.
According to legend, the Jade Emperor announced a great race across a river to determine which animals would represent the years. The Rat won by cleverness (riding the Ox and leaping at the last moment), the Ox came second through diligence, the Tiger third through power, and so on. Each animal's place in the zodiac reflects its archetypal nature — and your birth year reveals which archetype you carry.
Click Your Animal to Read Full Profile
Rat
1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020, 2032
The clever, resourceful, and ambitious survivor
Read → 🐂Ox
1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021
The reliable, hardworking, and quietly powerful builder
Read → 🐅Tiger
1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022
The brave, charismatic, and unstoppable warrior
Read → 🐇Rabbit
1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023
The gentle, elegant, and intuitively wise diplomat
Read → 🐉Dragon
1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024
The powerful, charismatic, and lucky born leader
Read → 🐍Snake
1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025
The wise, mysterious, and quietly powerful strategist
Read → 🐎Horse
1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026
The free-spirited, energetic, and adventurous wanderer
Read → 🐐Goat
1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027
The gentle, artistic, and peace-loving creator
Read → 🐒Monkey
1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028
The clever, mischievous, and impossibly entertaining genius
Read → 🐓Rooster
1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029
The confident, organized, and proudly authentic performer
Read → 🐕Dog
1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030
The loyal, honest, and protectively kind defender
Read → 🐖Pig
1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031
The kind, generous, and warmly devoted lover of life
Read →How to Find Your Chinese Zodiac Animal
Your Chinese zodiac animal is determined by the lunar year of your birth, not the Western calendar year. The Chinese New Year typically falls between January 21 and February 20. If you were born in January or early February, double-check the exact date of the Chinese New Year for your birth year — you may belong to the previous animal\'s year.
For example, someone born on February 5, 1989 was born BEFORE the Chinese New Year that year (which fell on February 6, 1989) — so they belong to the Year of the Dragon (1988), not the Year of the Snake (1989). Use a Chinese zodiac calculator or consult the years listed under each animal above to find your sign.
The Five Elements in Chinese Zodiac
In addition to your animal sign, your birth year is also associated with one of five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, or Water. The element changes every two years and adds nuance to your animal\'s personality. For example, a "Wood Tiger" (1974) is more growth-oriented and curious than a "Metal Tiger" (1950), who is more disciplined and structured. Your full Chinese zodiac profile combines your animal AND your element.
Compatibility in Chinese Astrology
Chinese astrology has a sophisticated compatibility system based on which animals harmonize with which. Each animal has 2-3 ideal matches (called "san he" or "three harmonies") and 1-2 challenging matches. These compatibility patterns affect not just romance but also business partnerships, friendships, and family dynamics. Click any animal above to see their full compatibility chart.