Year of the Rooster
Observant, hardworking, confident. Years, personality, love, work and compatibility of the Rooster.
The Rooster is the tenth sign. In Chinese culture the rooster stands for punctuality, honesty and hard work, since it crows every morning at the same time.
Quick answer. You are a Rooster if you were born in 2005, 2017, 2029, 2041 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 Rooster year began on 13 February 2029 and ended on 2 February 2030.
| Order in the zodiac | 10 of 12 |
| Earthly branch | You |
| Own element and polarity | Metal, yin |
| Recent years | 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029, 2041 |
| Harmonious with | Ox, Snake, Dragon |
| Challenging with | Rabbit, Dog |
| Lucky numbers (traditional) | 5, 7, 8 |
| Lucky colours (traditional) | gold, brown, yellow |
Find your Chinese zodiac sign
Rooster years: are you a Rooster?
You are a Rooster if you were born in a Rooster year, from its Chinese New Year to the day before the next. Recent Rooster years are 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029, 2041. The table lists every Rooster 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 2029 was on 13 February 2029, for instance, so anyone born earlier that January was a Monkey.
| Year | Sign | Starts | Ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1909 | Earth Rooster | 22 January 1909 | 9 February 1910 |
| 1921 | Metal Rooster | 8 February 1921 | 27 January 1922 |
| 1933 | Water Rooster | 26 January 1933 | 13 February 1934 |
| 1945 | Wood Rooster | 13 February 1945 | 1 February 1946 |
| 1957 | Fire Rooster | 31 January 1957 | 17 February 1958 |
| 1969 | Earth Rooster | 17 February 1969 | 5 February 1970 |
| 1981 | Metal Rooster | 5 February 1981 | 24 January 1982 |
| 1993 | Water Rooster | 23 January 1993 | 9 February 1994 |
| 2005 | Wood Rooster | 9 February 2005 | 28 January 2006 |
| 2017 | Fire Rooster | 28 January 2017 | 15 February 2018 |
| 2029 | Earth Rooster | 13 February 2029 | 2 February 2030 |
| 2041 | Metal Rooster | 1 February 2041 | 21 January 2042 |
| 2053 | Water Rooster | 19 February 2053 | 7 February 2054 |
| 2065 | Wood Rooster | 5 February 2065 | 25 January 2066 |
| 2077 | Fire Rooster | 24 January 2077 | 11 February 2078 |
| 2089 | Earth Rooster | 10 February 2089 | 29 January 2090 |
Check a birth year
Rooster age chart for 2027
How old are people born in Rooster 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | Wood Rooster | 13 February 1945 – 1 February 1946 | 81 or 82 |
| 1957 | Fire Rooster | 31 January 1957 – 17 February 1958 | 69 or 70 |
| 1969 | Earth Rooster | 17 February 1969 – 5 February 1970 | 57 or 58 |
| 1981 | Metal Rooster | 5 February 1981 – 24 January 1982 | 45 or 46 |
| 1993 | Water Rooster | 23 January 1993 – 9 February 1994 | 33 or 34 |
| 2005 | Wood Rooster | 9 February 2005 – 28 January 2006 | 21 or 22 |
| 2017 | Fire Rooster | 28 January 2017 – 15 February 2018 | 9 or 10 |
The legend of the Rooster
In the Great Race, the Rooster travelled on a raft with the Goat and the Monkey and finished tenth. In some tellings it was the Rooster who spotted the best raft, which suits its reputation for noticing details.
Rooster personality
Roosters are traditionally described as observant, hardworking and confident. They like order, take pride in their appearance, speak frankly and enjoy being the centre of attention. They are also described as critical and over-focused on detail.
Strengths
- Hard work and punctuality
- Attention to detail
- Honesty and frankness
- Confidence
- Organisation
Weaknesses
- Criticising others
- Perfectionism
- Vanity and a need for recognition
- Stubbornness
Rooster at home and in the family
At home the Rooster is described as the organiser who keeps the household on schedule and looks after the details. Rooster parents are thought to be devoted and hardworking, and sometimes strict about standards.
Rooster as a friend
As a friend the Rooster is honest, helpful and fun in company. Tradition says Roosters speak frankly, like to be appreciated and can sting with criticism, though they are loyal in a crisis.
Rooster in love and relationships
In love, the Rooster is described as devoted and protective, and it expresses care through practical help. It values honesty and loyalty. The usual friction is criticism, because a Rooster may point out flaws without meaning to hurt. Tradition suggests partners who are open and secure.
Rooster career and work style
Traditional descriptions place the Rooster in careers that reward precision and presentation: accounting, administration, medicine, teaching, the military, fashion and public speaking. Roosters are said to be careful with money and good at budgets.
In a team the Rooster is described as the planner who notices errors and delivers on time. It works best with clear structure and recognition and can be critical or over-focused on details.
Rooster and money
Roosters are traditionally seen as careful with money, good at budgets and accounts, and fond of looking presentable. They save steadily and are generous to people they care about.
Rooster under stress
Under stress a Rooster is said to become critical, rigid or anxious about getting it right. A break from perfectionism and a reminder that good enough is fine are the usual suggestions.
Advice for the Rooster
The traditional advice for a Rooster is to praise as readily as it criticises, to relax its standards sometimes and to listen as well as speak.
Rooster compatibility
In the traditional system the Rooster is harmonious with Ox, Snake (its trine) and with Dragon, its secret friend. Its opposite sign, which tradition calls a clash, is the Rabbit, and the Dog forms a harm pair with it. Every other pairing has no special relationship. These are conversation starters and not predictions.
| Sign | With the Rooster | What tradition says |
|---|---|---|
| 🐀 Rat | No special relationship | No classical link. The Rooster’s observant and the Rat’s quick-witted meet without a built-in match or clash, so character counts for more. |
| 🐂 Ox | Trine: the same group of three | Natural allies in the same trine. The Rooster’s observant goes well with the Ox’s diligent, and the two tend to share an outlook. |
| 🐅 Tiger | No special relationship | No classical link. The Rooster’s observant and the Tiger’s brave meet without a built-in match or clash, so character counts for more. |
| 🐇 Rabbit | Clash: opposite sign | Opposite signs. The Rooster’s observant meets the Rabbit’s gentle, which attracts and irritates in equal measure. |
| 🐉 Dragon | Secret friend | Secret friends. The Rooster’s observant is balanced by the Dragon’s ambitious, a bond described as close and complementary. |
| 🐍 Snake | Trine: the same group of three | Natural allies in the same trine. The Rooster’s observant goes well with the Snake’s wise, and the two tend to share an outlook. |
| 🐎 Horse | No special relationship | No classical link. The Rooster’s observant and the Horse’s energetic meet without a built-in match or clash, so character counts for more. |
| 🐐 Goat | No special relationship | No classical link. The Rooster’s observant and the Goat’s gentle meet without a built-in match or clash, so character counts for more. |
| 🐒 Monkey | No special relationship | No classical link. The Rooster’s observant and the Monkey’s clever meet without a built-in match or clash, so character counts for more. |
| 🐓 Rooster | Same sign | Two Roosters share the same strengths and the same blind spots, so they understand each other quickly and can also repeat each other’s habits. |
| 🐕 Dog | Harm pair | A harm pair. The Rooster’s observant and the Dog’s loyal can misread each other, so honesty and patience matter. |
| 🐖 Pig | No special relationship | No classical link. The Rooster’s observant 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 Rooster
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 Rooster 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 Rooster | 1945, 2005, 2065 | The Wood Rooster is described as more creative and sociable than other Roosters, generous with ideas and open to others. |
| Fire Rooster | 1957, 2017, 2077 | The Fire Rooster is described as the most vivid and outspoken Rooster, confident, energetic and fond of the spotlight. |
| Earth Rooster | 1909, 1969, 2029, 2089 | The Earth Rooster is described as practical and reliable, a patient organiser with a calm, dutiful manner. |
| Metal Rooster | 1921, 1981, 2041 | The Metal Rooster is described as disciplined and determined, a principled Rooster with high standards. |
| Water Rooster | 1933, 1993, 2053 | The Water Rooster is described as more flexible and perceptive, a thoughtful Rooster who communicates well. |
Famous people born in Rooster 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 Rooster: Beyoncé (4 September 1981); Jay-Z (4 December 1969); Ariana Grande (26 June 1993); Harry Styles (1 February 1994); Serena Williams (26 September 1981); Jennifer Lopez (24 July 1969); Britney Spears (2 December 1981); Yoko Ono (18 February 1933). Whether the sign says anything about them is a matter of interpretation.
The Rooster in 2027, the Year of the Fire Goat
The Rooster has no special classical relationship with the Goat. Tradition describes a neutral year for the Rooster, one that depends more on your own choices than on the pairing of the signs. 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 5, 7, 8 and the lucky colours gold, brown, yellow for the Rooster. Such lists differ between sources and belong to popular folklore, not to any fixed rule.
The neighbouring signs
The Monkey comes before the Rooster and the Dog comes after it. See all twelve in our guide to the Chinese zodiac.
Frequently asked questions
What years are the Rooster years?
Recent Rooster years are 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029, 2041. Each one runs from that year’s Chinese New Year to the day before the next. For example, the 2029 Rooster year runs from 13 February 2029 to 2 February 2030. See the years chart for every date.
Am I a Rooster 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 2029 was on 13 February 2029, so a person born on 10 January 2029 belongs to the previous animal, the Monkey, and not to the Rooster.
What is the personality of the Rooster?
Observant, hardworking, confident. Roosters are traditionally described as observant, hardworking and confident. They like order, take pride in their appearance, speak frankly and enjoy being the centre of attention. They are also described as critical and over-focused on detail.
What are the Rooster’s strengths?
Hard work and punctuality; Attention to detail; Honesty and frankness; Confidence; Organisation.
What are the Rooster’s weaknesses?
Criticising others; Perfectionism; Vanity and a need for recognition; Stubbornness. Every sign has both strengths and weaknesses in this tradition.
What are the best careers for the Rooster?
Traditional descriptions place the Rooster in careers that reward precision and presentation: accounting, administration, medicine, teaching, the military, fashion and public speaking. Roosters are said to be careful with money and good at budgets.
How does the Rooster behave in love?
In love, the Rooster is described as devoted and protective, and it expresses care through practical help. It values honesty and loyalty. The usual friction is criticism, because a Rooster may point out flaws without meaning to hurt. Tradition suggests partners who are open and secure.
Which signs are compatible with the Rooster?
Traditionally the Rooster is harmonious with Ox, Snake and Dragon, and challenging with Rabbit and Dog. See the full compatibility chart.
What is the Rooster’s element?
The Rooster is a Metal animal and a yin sign. Each year also has its own element, so Rooster years can be Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal or Water. The table on this page lists them all.
How old is a Rooster in 2027?
People born in 2017, 2005, 1993, 1981 turn 10, 22, 34, 46 in 2027, and are one year younger until their birthday. The table on this page gives the ages for every Rooster year since 1940.
Which animal comes before and after the Rooster?
The Monkey comes before the Rooster and the Dog comes after it.
What are the Rooster’s lucky numbers and colours?
One commonly quoted list gives the numbers 5, 7, 8 and the colours gold, brown, yellow. 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.