Year of the Ox
Diligent, dependable, patient. Years, personality, love, work and compatibility of the Ox.
The Ox is the second sign of the zodiac and the symbol of steady work. In Chinese farming life the ox pulled the plough, so the animal stands for patience, strength and reliability.
Quick answer. You are a Ox if you were born in 1997, 2009, 2021, 2033 or any other year in the cycle (every 12 years), from that year’s Chinese New Year to the day before the next one. The latest Ox year began on 12 February 2021 and ended on 31 January 2022.
| Order in the zodiac | 2 of 12 |
| Earthly branch | Chou |
| Own element and polarity | Earth, yin |
| Recent years | 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021, 2033 |
| Harmonious with | Snake, Rooster, Rat |
| Challenging with | Goat, Horse |
| Lucky numbers (traditional) | 1, 4 |
| Lucky colours (traditional) | white, yellow, green |
Find your Chinese zodiac sign
Ox years: are you a Ox?
You are a Ox if you were born in a Ox year, from its Chinese New Year to the day before the next. Recent Ox years are 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021, 2033. The table lists every Ox year from 1900 to 2100 with its exact dates. A January or early February birthday often belongs to the previous animal: Chinese New Year in 2021 was on 12 February 2021, for instance, so anyone born earlier that January was a Rat.
| Year | Sign | Starts | Ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1901 | Metal Ox | 19 February 1901 | 7 February 1902 |
| 1913 | Water Ox | 6 February 1913 | 25 January 1914 |
| 1925 | Wood Ox | 24 January 1925 | 12 February 1926 |
| 1937 | Fire Ox | 11 February 1937 | 30 January 1938 |
| 1949 | Earth Ox | 29 January 1949 | 16 February 1950 |
| 1961 | Metal Ox | 15 February 1961 | 4 February 1962 |
| 1973 | Water Ox | 3 February 1973 | 22 January 1974 |
| 1985 | Wood Ox | 20 February 1985 | 8 February 1986 |
| 1997 | Fire Ox | 7 February 1997 | 27 January 1998 |
| 2009 | Earth Ox | 26 January 2009 | 13 February 2010 |
| 2021 | Metal Ox | 12 February 2021 | 31 January 2022 |
| 2033 | Water Ox | 31 January 2033 | 18 February 2034 |
| 2045 | Wood Ox | 17 February 2045 | 5 February 2046 |
| 2057 | Fire Ox | 4 February 2057 | 23 January 2058 |
| 2069 | Earth Ox | 23 January 2069 | 10 February 2070 |
| 2081 | Metal Ox | 9 February 2081 | 28 January 2082 |
| 2093 | Water Ox | 27 January 2093 | 14 February 2094 |
Check a birth year
Ox age chart for 2027
How old are people born in Ox years in 2027? The age depends on the birthday, so each row gives two ages: the lower one if the birthday in 2027 has not yet come, and the higher one after it.
| Year | Sign | Chinese year | Age in 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | Earth Ox | 29 January 1949 – 16 February 1950 | 77 or 78 |
| 1961 | Metal Ox | 15 February 1961 – 4 February 1962 | 65 or 66 |
| 1973 | Water Ox | 3 February 1973 – 22 January 1974 | 53 or 54 |
| 1985 | Wood Ox | 20 February 1985 – 8 February 1986 | 41 or 42 |
| 1997 | Fire Ox | 7 February 1997 – 27 January 1998 | 29 or 30 |
| 2009 | Earth Ox | 26 January 2009 – 13 February 2010 | 17 or 18 |
| 2021 | Metal Ox | 12 February 2021 – 31 January 2022 | 5 or 6 |
The legend of the Ox
In the Great Race, the Ox was a strong swimmer and was well ahead when the Rat jumped from its back to take first place. Tellers often use this to show the Ox's modesty: it did the hard work and accepted second place without complaint.
Ox personality
People born in an Ox year are traditionally described as honest, patient and methodical. They like clear plans, keep their word and are slow to anger. Their calm can look stubborn, and in some tellings an Ox that has made up its mind is very hard to move.
Strengths
- Reliability and a strong work ethic
- Patience and persistence
- Honesty and loyalty
- Practical judgement
- Calm under pressure
Weaknesses
- Stubbornness
- Difficulty accepting change
- A tendency to bottle up feelings
- Being slow to adapt to new methods
Ox at home and in the family
At home the Ox is described as the pillar of the family: dependable, protective and devoted to routine, tradition and a well-kept house. Ox parents are thought to be firm, fair and slow to show emotion but deeply caring.
Ox as a friend
As a friend the Ox is loyal for life and slow to make new friends. Tradition says an Ox rarely gossips, keeps promises and expects the same from others, and that an offended Ox may keep quiet for a long time.
Ox in love and relationships
In love, the Ox is described as devoted and steady, showing affection through actions instead of speeches. It values tradition, a stable home and a partner who keeps promises. The usual friction is communication, because feelings can go unspoken. Tradition suggests saying kind things aloud, even when they seem obvious.
Ox career and work style
Traditional descriptions place the Ox in careers that reward patience and craftsmanship: farming, building, engineering, banking, accounting, medicine and management. The Ox is said to build wealth slowly and carefully rather than through risk.
In a team the Ox is described as the one who finishes the job properly. It is patient, thorough and trusted with responsibility, and it can resist new methods and dislike being rushed.
Ox and money
Oxen are traditionally seen as cautious savers who build wealth steadily through work and property. They tend to avoid speculation and to prefer a plan they understand.
Ox under stress
Under stress an Ox is said to withdraw, dig in and carry on, sometimes until it is exhausted. Folklore suggests the Ox needs permission to rest and to change a plan.
Advice for the Ox
The traditional advice for an Ox is to speak up about its feelings, to try one new thing a year and to accept that flexibility is not weakness.
Ox compatibility
In the traditional system the Ox is harmonious with Snake, Rooster (its trine) and with Rat, its secret friend. Its opposite sign, which tradition calls a clash, is the Goat, and the Horse forms a harm pair with it. Every other pairing has no special relationship. These are conversation starters and not predictions.
| Sign | With the Ox | What tradition says |
|---|---|---|
| 🐀 Rat | Secret friend | Secret friends. The Ox’s diligent is balanced by the Rat’s quick-witted, a bond described as close and complementary. |
| 🐂 Ox | Same sign | Two Oxs share the same strengths and the same blind spots, so they understand each other quickly and can also repeat each other’s habits. |
| 🐅 Tiger | No special relationship | No classical link. The Ox’s diligent and the Tiger’s brave meet without a built-in match or clash, so character counts for more. |
| 🐇 Rabbit | No special relationship | No classical link. The Ox’s diligent and the Rabbit’s gentle meet without a built-in match or clash, so character counts for more. |
| 🐉 Dragon | No special relationship | No classical link. The Ox’s diligent and the Dragon’s ambitious meet without a built-in match or clash, so character counts for more. |
| 🐍 Snake | Trine: the same group of three | Natural allies in the same trine. The Ox’s diligent goes well with the Snake’s wise, and the two tend to share an outlook. |
| 🐎 Horse | Harm pair | A harm pair. The Ox’s diligent and the Horse’s energetic can misread each other, so honesty and patience matter. |
| 🐐 Goat | Clash: opposite sign | Opposite signs. The Ox’s diligent meets the Goat’s gentle, which attracts and irritates in equal measure. |
| 🐒 Monkey | No special relationship | No classical link. The Ox’s diligent and the Monkey’s clever meet without a built-in match or clash, so character counts for more. |
| 🐓 Rooster | Trine: the same group of three | Natural allies in the same trine. The Ox’s diligent goes well with the Rooster’s observant, and the two tend to share an outlook. |
| 🐕 Dog | No special relationship | No classical link. The Ox’s diligent and the Dog’s loyal meet without a built-in match or clash, so character counts for more. |
| 🐖 Pig | No special relationship | No classical link. The Ox’s diligent and the Pig’s generous meet without a built-in match or clash, so character counts for more. |
Compare two Chinese zodiac signs
The five kinds of Ox
The element of the year adds a second layer to the animal. Wood is described as growth and creativity, Fire as passion and leadership, Earth as stability, Metal as discipline and Water as adaptability. Here are the Ox years of each element, with how tradition describes each kind. Read more in our guide to the Chinese zodiac elements.
| Sign | Years (1900–2100) | Described as |
|---|---|---|
| Wood Ox | 1925, 1985, 2045 | The Wood Ox is described as more flexible and sociable than other Oxen, steady but open to ideas, with a gentle sense of fairness. |
| Fire Ox | 1937, 1997, 2057 | The Fire Ox is described as passionate and driven, a determined leader whose temper can flare when its plans are blocked. |
| Earth Ox | 1949, 2009, 2069 | The Earth Ox is described as the most reliable of all, practical, patient and grounded, though very stubborn. |
| Metal Ox | 1901, 1961, 2021, 2081 | The Metal Ox is described as disciplined and principled, with great focus and a tendency to be hard on itself and others. |
| Water Ox | 1913, 1973, 2033, 2093 | The Water Ox is described as thoughtful and perceptive, more diplomatic than other Oxen, with a quiet empathy. |
Famous people born in Ox years
Based on publicly reported dates of birth, and using the exact Chinese New Year of each birth year, these well-known people belong to the Ox: Barack Obama (4 August 1961); Princess Diana (1 July 1961); Meryl Streep (22 June 1949); Walt Disney (5 December 1901); Bruce Springsteen (23 September 1949); Morgan Freeman (1 June 1937); Larry Page (26 March 1973); Malala Yousafzai (12 July 1997). Whether the sign says anything about them is a matter of interpretation.
The Ox in 2027, the Year of the Fire Goat
The Ox sits opposite the Goat on the zodiac wheel, which tradition calls a clash. A Goat year is described as a testing year for the Ox, with change in the air, and the usual advice is to keep plans flexible and not to rush big commitments. This is folklore, not a forecast. See the Chinese New Year 2027 page for every sign.
Lucky numbers and colours
One commonly quoted list gives the lucky numbers 1, 4 and the lucky colours white, yellow, green for the Ox. Such lists differ between sources and belong to popular folklore, not to any fixed rule.
The neighbouring signs
The Rat comes before the Ox and the Tiger comes after it. See all twelve in our guide to the Chinese zodiac.
Frequently asked questions
What years are the Ox years?
Recent Ox years are 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021, 2033. Each one runs from that year’s Chinese New Year to the day before the next. For example, the 2021 Ox year runs from 12 February 2021 to 31 January 2022. See the years chart for every date.
Am I a Ox if I was born in January or February?
Only if your birthday is on or after that year’s Chinese New Year. For example, Chinese New Year in 2021 was on 12 February 2021, so a person born on 10 January 2021 belongs to the previous animal, the Rat, and not to the Ox.
What is the personality of the Ox?
Diligent, dependable, patient. People born in an Ox year are traditionally described as honest, patient and methodical. They like clear plans, keep their word and are slow to anger. Their calm can look stubborn, and in some tellings an Ox that has made up its mind is very hard to move.
What are the Ox’s strengths?
Reliability and a strong work ethic; Patience and persistence; Honesty and loyalty; Practical judgement; Calm under pressure.
What are the Ox’s weaknesses?
Stubbornness; Difficulty accepting change; A tendency to bottle up feelings; Being slow to adapt to new methods. Every sign has both strengths and weaknesses in this tradition.
What are the best careers for the Ox?
Traditional descriptions place the Ox in careers that reward patience and craftsmanship: farming, building, engineering, banking, accounting, medicine and management. The Ox is said to build wealth slowly and carefully rather than through risk.
How does the Ox behave in love?
In love, the Ox is described as devoted and steady, showing affection through actions instead of speeches. It values tradition, a stable home and a partner who keeps promises. The usual friction is communication, because feelings can go unspoken. Tradition suggests saying kind things aloud, even when they seem obvious.
Which signs are compatible with the Ox?
Traditionally the Ox is harmonious with Snake, Rooster and Rat, and challenging with Goat and Horse. See the full compatibility chart.
What is the Ox’s element?
The Ox is a Earth animal and a yin sign. Each year also has its own element, so Ox years can be Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal or Water. The table on this page lists them all.
How old is a Ox in 2027?
People born in 2021, 2009, 1997, 1985 turn 6, 18, 30, 42 in 2027, and are one year younger until their birthday. The table on this page gives the ages for every Ox year since 1940.
Which animal comes before and after the Ox?
The Rat comes before the Ox and the Tiger comes after it.
What are the Ox’s lucky numbers and colours?
One commonly quoted list gives the numbers 1, 4 and the colours white, yellow, green. Such lists differ between sources and belong to folklore.
Other signs
For culture and entertainment. The Chinese zodiac is a traditional system of folklore and symbolism. It cannot predict events, and it is not medical, financial, legal or relationship advice. See the full disclaimer.