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Chinese Zodiac

Written by Ruby Zhao Updated Aug. 23, 2024

Chinese zodiac, or shengxiao (/shnng-sshyao/ 'born resembling'), is represented by 12 zodiac animals. In order, they are the Rat, Ox, Tiger,
Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.

Chinese zodiac years begin/end at Chinese New Year (in January/February). Each year in the repeating zodiac cycle of 12 years is
represented by a zodiac animal, each with its own reputed attributes.

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2025 is the year of the Snake, starting from January 29th, 2025 and ends on February 16th, 2025.

Chinese people believe that a person's horoscope, personality, and love compatibility are closely associated with his/her Chinese zodiac
sign, determined by his/her birth year.

Here you can find out all about the Chinese zodiac, including what your Chinese zodiac sign is and your 2025 horoscope predictions.

Rat Ox Tiger Rabbit Dragon Snake

2032, 2020, 2008 2033, 2021, 2009 2034, 2022, 2010 2035, 2023, 2011 2036, 2024, 2012 2025, 2013, 2001
1996, 1984, 1972 1997, 1985, 1973 1998, 1986, 1974 1999, 1987, 1975 2000, 1988, 1975 1989, 1977, 1965
1960, 1948, 1936… 1961, 1949, 1937… 1962, 1950, 1938… 1963, 1951, 1939… 1964, 1952, 1940… 1953, 1941, 1929…

Horse Goat Monkey Rooster Dog Pig

2026, 2014, 2002 2027, 2015, 2003 2028, 2016, 2004 2029, 2017, 2005 2030, 2018, 2006 2031, 2019, 2007
1990, 1978, 1966 1991, 1979, 1967 1992, 1980, 1968 1993, 1981, 1969 1994, 1982, 1970 1995, 1983, 1971
1954, 1942, 1930… 1955, 1943, 1931… 1956, 1944, 1932… 1957, 1945, 1933… 1958, 1946, 1934… 1959, 1947, 1935…

Content Preview
What is My Chinese Zodiac Sign? Chinese Horoscope 2025
Personality Chinese Zodiac Story
Lucky Things Chinese Zodiac in Other Asian Countries
Love Compatibility Differences between Chinese Zodiac and Western Astrology
The Luckiest/Unluckiest Zodiac Sign

What is My Chinese Zodiac Sign?

Each Chinese zodiac year is represented by an animal. The calendar of Chinese zodiac years below will help you find your zodiac sign fast.

For example, 1991 is a year of the Goat. If you were born in 1991, your Chinese zodiac sign is the Goat, and you are known as a "Goat".

Chinese Zodiac Years

Chinese Zodiac Sign Years

Rat ...1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020…

Ox …1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021…

Tiger …1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022…

Rabbit … 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023 ...

Dragon … 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024 …

Snake … 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025 …

Horse … 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026 …

Goat … 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027 …

Monkey … 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028 …

Rooster … 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029 …

Dog … 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030 …

Pig … 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031 …

You may want to read more about Chinese zodiac years.

For the starting date of a zodiac year, there are two schools of thought in Chinese astrology: Chinese New Year or the Start of Spring.

Chinese New Year, day 1 of the Chinese lunar year, falls somewhere in the period January 21st to February 20th.

The Start of Spring is the 1st of the 24 Solar Terms, beginning on February 3rd or 4th.

Most Chinese people use Chinese New Year as the start of the zodiac year. This is popular Chinese astrology. Only traditionalists and
professional astrologers use the first solar term. Therefore, for example if you were born in January or February in 1997, you might be
an Ox or a Rat.

You can use our free Chinese zodiac sign calculator below to be sure.

Chinese Zodiac Calculator

Chinese Zodiac Caculator Click the zodiac sign below to check each animal sign's horoscope, personality, love
compatibility, etc. in detail.

Choose your date of birth and find out about

your Chinese zodiac sign.

Rat Ox Tiger Rabbit

Jan 17 2013

Find Your Zodiac Sign

You are a: Dragon Snake Horse Goat

DRAGON
Personality: confident, intelligent,
Monkey Rooster Dog Pig
enthusiastic

Lucky numbers: 1, 6, 7

Lucky colors: gold, silver, grayish

white

Lucky flowers: bleeding-heart glory

bower, dragon flowers

Chinese Zodiac Signs' Personality

Chinese zodiac animals have astrological and cultural meanings. Chinese people associate each animal sign with certain characteristics. It's
believed that people born in a given year have the personality of that year's animal.

Rat: quick-witted, resourceful, versatile, kind.

Ox: diligent, dependable, strong, determined.

Tiger: brave, confident, competitive, unpredictable.

Rabbit: quiet, elegant, kind, responsible.

Dragon: confident, intelligent, enthusiastic.

Snake: enigmatic, intelligent, wise.

Horse: animated, active, energetic.

Goat: calm, gentle, sympathetic.

Monkey: sharp, smart, curious.

Rooster: observant, hardworking, courageous.

Dog: lovely, honest, prudent.

Pig: compassionate, generous, diligent.

Chinese Zodiac Signs' Lucky/Unlucky Things

Lucky Things

Chinese Zodiac Sign Lucky Numbers Lucky Colors Lucky Flowers

Rat 2, 3 blue, gold, green lily, African violet

Ox 1, 4 white, yellow, green tulip, peach blossom

Tiger 1, 3, 4 blue, gray, orange yellow lily, cineraria

Rabbit 3, 4, 6 red, pink, purple, blue plantain lily, jasmine

Dragon 1, 6, 7 gold, silver, grayish white bleeding-heart glory bower, dragon flowers

Snake 2, 8, 9 black, red, and yellow orchid and cactus

Horse 2, 3, 7 yellow and green calla lily and jasmine

Goat 2, 7 brown, red, and purple carnations and primroses

Monkey 4, 9 white, blue, gold chrysanthemum, crape myrtle

Rooster 5, 7, 8 gold, brown, and yellow gladiola, cockscomb

Dog 3, 4, 9 red, green, and purple rose, cymbidium orchids

Pig 2, 5, 8 yellow, gray, brown, gold hydrangea and daisy

Unlucky Things

Chinese Zodiac Sign Unlucky Numbers Unlucky Colors

Rat 5, 9 yellow, brown

Ox 5, 6 blue

Tiger 6, 7, 8 brown

Rabbit 1, 7, 8 dark brown, dark yellow, white

Dragon 3, 8 blue, green

Snake 1, 6, 7 brown, gold, white

Horse 1, 5, 6 blue, white

Goat 4, 9 blue, black

Monkey 2, 7 red, pink

Rooster 1, 3, 9 red

Dog 1, 6, 7 blue, white, gold

Pig 1, 7 red, blue, green

Chinese Zodiac Compatibility - Is He/She Right for You?

An important use of the Chinese zodiac is
to determine if two people are compatible
in a romantic relationship... or any kind of
relationship. Zodiac compatibility is usually
checked before getting married in China.

People born in a certain zodiac animal year

are believed to have attributes of that
animal, which determines their personality
traits and could either help or hinder a
relationship.

Chinese Zodiac Compatibility Caculator

Enter date of birth and test now

Boy's date of birth:

Girl's date of birth:

Take the test

Best Matches for the 12 Chinese Zodiac Signs

What is the luckiest/unluckiest Chinese zodiac sign?

In Chinese culture, the top 5 luckiest/most popular zodiac signs are Dragon, Snake, Pig, Rat, and Tiger conventionally.

There is a popular Chinese folk saying that 9/10 Goats are inadequate (⼗⽺九不全 '10 Goats 9 incomplete'), which implies that most
people born in a year of the Goat are destined for bad luck. Most Chinese people also believe that people born in a Goat year will grow up
to be followers rather than leaders. Although this is an outdated superstition, it has a real effect on Chinese society.

Conversely, the Dragon is the most coveted zodiac sign, with Chinese births peaking in Dragon years.

Rationally, it's hard to identify the luckiest or unluckiest zodiac signs, as each sign has its own advantages and disadvantages. Socially,
different combinations of zodiac signs cause different relational dynamics, which may affect someone's life more, as we don't live in
isolation.

For more insights, we present the fortunes of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs below.

Chinese Horoscope 2025 Predictions for 12 Zodiac Signs

As we move forward in time, we're stepping into the fresh vibes of 2025! This new year is bringing a mix of opportunities and challenges
for each zodiac sign. So, how's the luck looking for the 12 zodiac signs in 2025?

Rat OX Tiger Rabbit Dragon

Snake Horse Goat Monkey Rooster

Dog Pig

Rats' Horoscope 2025

Rats, you're also in for a solid year in 2025. Your quick thinking and unique perspectives will lead you to some successful decisions,
pushing your career to new heights. Entrepreneurship and career advancements are on the cards for you, along with building positive
relationships with your crew, pals, and fam.

Chinese Zodiac Story: Explaining the Order and Why There's No Cat

Do you know why the 12 Chinese zodiac animals are in their fixed sequence from Rat to Pig?

The sequence of the 12 signs is popularly explained by a myth about when the Jade Emperor (the supreme immortal) wanted to select 12
animals to be his guards. All creatures on Earth were summoned to participate in a race. The earlier one went through the Heavenly Gate,
the better the rank one would have.

Rat and Ox got up very early. On the way to the Gate, Rat jumped onto the back of the Ox to cross the river. He won first place by
suddenly jumping down from Ox's back and dashed to the feet of the Emperor when they're near to the Heavenly Gate. Ox was second.

Tiger and Rabbit came third and fourth because both are fast and competitive, but Tiger was faster.

Good-looking Dragon was fifth and was immediately noticed by the Jade Emperor, who said Dragon's son could be sixth. Just then,
Snake came forward and said Dragon was his adoptive father; so Snake ranked sixth.

Horse and Goat arrived. They were very kind and modest and each let the other go first. They were ranked seventh and eighth.

Monkey had fallen well behind. But he jumped between trees and stones, and caught up to be ninth. Last were Rooster, Dog, and Pig.

Why is the cat not one of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals? It is said that Cat and Rat got as far as crossing the river together on Ox's
back, but Rat pushed Cat into the water. Cat was washed away and didn't get to the Heavenly Gate in time to get a ranking. After that a
great enmity grew between Cat and Rat, so that rats scatter in all directions when a cat appears.

The story is widespread (and widely varying) among Chinese. Though it is made up, it might be interesting for you to tell your children and
friends.

Actually, the 12 Chinese zodiac animals were chosen very deliberately by the ancients, after many revisions. The zodiac animals are either
closely related to ancient Chinese people's daily lives or have lucky meanings in ancient Chinese culture.

What are the differences between Chinese zodiac and western astrology?

The main similarity between the two systems is that both systems are based on time periods of birth, and they both have 12 symbols or
signs with associated personalities and fortunes.

However, there are big differences in their origins and astrological theory.

With the Chinese zodiac, the 12 signs are derived from the ancients' musings about archetypal animals, people's personalities and fortunes,
and their relationships with one another and years of birth. A myth about a celestial race was later developed to explain the Chinese zodiac
sequence.

This differs from Western astrology, where the 12 zodiac signs are based on constellations' positions relative to the earth. The
constellations were named according to Greek mythology and astrological theory was developed based on the stars supposed influence on
human personalities and lives.

In addition, the Chinese zodiac is calculated on a year-by-year base while the Western zodiac corresponds with "months".

Chinese Zodiac in Other Asian Countries

The Chinese zodiac has a great influence on several other Asian countries, such as the South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Singapore,
Thailand, and Myanmar. In some countries, the zodiac signs are the same as the Chinese ones, while some of the animals differ in other
countries.

The 12 Chinese zodiac animals in order are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. These
animal signs are exactly the same in South Korea, North Korea, Singapore, and Cambodia.

The 12 Japanese zodiac animals in order are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Boar.

The 12 Vietnamese zodiac animals in order are: Rat, Buffalo, Tiger, Cat, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.

The 12 Thai zodiac animals in order are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Naga (a mythical half-human-half-snake spirit), Snake, Horse, Goat,
Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.

The 8 Burmese zodiac animals are: Garuda (a mythical bird), Tiger, Lion, Elephant (with tusks), Rat, Guinea Pig, and Dragon.

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