The Chinese Zodiac

By the BotsBox editorial team. Updated November 5, 2026. Cultural tradition, not prediction.

What is the Chinese zodiac?

The Chinese zodiac is a cycle of twelve years, each named after an animal. It is used in China and in many other East Asian countries to describe the character of the people born in each year, to choose auspicious dates and to talk about compatibility. The animals follow a fixed order, and the cycle starts again after twelve years. Every year also has an element and a polarity, which together make up a 60-year cycle.

The legend of the Great Race

A well-known story explains the order of the animals. The Jade Emperor invited the animals to a race across a river, and the first twelve to finish would have a year named after them. The Rat, small and clever, rode on the Ox’s back and jumped ahead at the finish. The Ox came second, followed by the Tiger, the Rabbit, the Dragon, the Snake, the Horse, the Goat, the Monkey, the Rooster, the Dog and the Pig. Tellings differ in the details, and in many the cat missed the race, which is the usual explanation for why it has no place in the zodiac.

The 12 animals

Open any animal for its years, personality, love, work and compatibility.

• 🐀 Rat
• 🐂 Ox
• 🐅 Tiger
• 🐇 Rabbit
• 🐉 Dragon
• 🐍 Snake
• 🐎 Horse
• 🐐 Goat
• 🐒 Monkey
• 🐓 Rooster
• 🐕 Dog
• 🐖 Pig

How to find your sign

Use the calculator above. The one thing to remember is that the Chinese year starts at the Chinese New Year, between 21 January and 20 February, so a January or early February birthday often belongs to the previous animal. The exact dates are in our years chart, and the calculator page explains how to work it out by hand.

Chinese zodiac signs by year, 1950 to 2035

This table gives the animal for each Chinese year, with the exact dates. A birthday before the start date belongs to the previous animal.

The year of your own sign

In Chinese tradition the year of your own animal, which comes round every twelve years, is called a benmingnian. Folklore treats it as a year that calls for extra care, and many people wear something red during it for protection, a custom still common at Chinese New Year. It is a cultural belief and not a rule. If you are a Dragon, for example, 2024 and 2036 are Dragon years.

Elements, yin and yang

Each year also has one of five elements, Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal or Water, and is yin or yang. A Wood Dragon (2024) and a Metal Dragon (2000) are described differently, even though both are Dragons. Our guide to the Chinese zodiac elements lists all 60 combinations.

Compatibility between the signs

The signs form four groups of three, called trines, whose members are described as natural allies: Rat, Dragon and Monkey; Ox, Snake and Rooster; Tiger, Horse and Dog; Rabbit, Goat and Pig. Opposite signs are said to clash. The full picture, with the secret friends and the harms, is in the Chinese zodiac compatibility chart.

Lucky numbers and colours

Many sites list lucky numbers and colours for each animal. These lists come from popular tradition, and they differ between sources, so treat them as folklore. One commonly quoted set is below.

Chinese zodiac and Western astrology

The two systems are often compared, but they work differently. Western astrology gives you a sign by your month of birth, based on the sun’s position among twelve constellations. The Chinese zodiac gives you an animal by your year of birth, following the lunar calendar, and adds an element and polarity. Many people enjoy knowing both. Neither has scientific support, and both are best read as symbolism.

Regional variations

The zodiac spreads across East Asia with local differences. In Vietnam the Cat replaces the Rabbit. The Goat is also called the Sheep or the Ram in English. Korea, Japan and other countries use the same twelve-year cycle with their own customs. We follow the Chinese version.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Chinese zodiac?

It is a repeating cycle of twelve years, each named after an animal: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. Each animal is paired with a set of personality traits in Chinese folklore.

What are the 12 Chinese zodiac animals in order?

Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig.

What is my Chinese zodiac sign?

It depends on your date of birth, because the Chinese year starts at the Chinese New Year and not on 1 January. Use the calculator on this page to find it.

Why is there no cat in the Chinese zodiac?

In the legend of the Great Race, the cat is said to have been tricked by the rat and missed the race. In Vietnam, the cat takes the place of the rabbit.

Which Chinese zodiac signs are compatible?

Signs in the same trine and the six secret-friend pairs are described as most harmonious. See our compatibility chart.

What is the difference between the Chinese zodiac and Western astrology?

Western astrology assigns signs by the month of birth and the position of the sun among twelve constellations. The Chinese zodiac assigns an animal to each lunar year, then adds an element and yin or yang.

Is the Goat the same as the Sheep?

Yes. The Chinese word can mean goat, sheep or ram, so English-language sites use all three names for the same sign.