Chinese Zodiac Year Chart
REFChinese Zodiac Animals & Years
| Animal | Recent Years | Element | Traits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🐀 Rat | 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020, 2032 | Water | Intelligent, adaptable, quick-witted |
| 🐂 Ox | 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021, 2033 | Earth | Diligent, dependable, strong, determined |
| 🐅 Tiger | 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022, 2034 | Wood | Brave, competitive, confident |
| 🐇 Rabbit | 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023, 2035 | Wood | Gentle, quiet, elegant, kind |
| 🐉 Dragon | 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024, 2036 | Earth | Confident, intelligent, enthusiastic |
| 🐍 Snake | 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025, 2037 | Fire | Wise, enigmatic, intuitive |
| 🐴 Horse | 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026, 2038 | Fire | Energetic, independent, warm-hearted |
| 🐐 Goat | 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027, 2039 | Earth | Calm, gentle, sympathetic |
| 🐒 Monkey | 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028, 2040 | Metal | Intelligent, witty, curious |
| 🐓 Rooster | 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029, 2041 | Metal | Observant, hardworking, confident |
| 🐕 Dog | 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030, 2042 | Earth | Loyal, honest, responsible |
| 🐖 Pig | 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031, 2043 | Water | Compassionate, generous, diligent |
Compatibility Chart
Five Elements
Understanding Chinese Zodiac
The Chinese zodiac (shengxiao) follows a repeating 12-year cycle, with each year represented by an animal. The crucial detail many people miss is that the zodiac year follows the lunar calendar, not January 1: a new animal year begins on Chinese New Year, which falls somewhere between late January and mid-February depending on the year. This means anyone born in January or early February may actually belong to the previous year's animal. For example, someone born on January 20, 2020 was born before that year's New Year (January 25, 2020) and is therefore a Pig, not a Rat. Always check the exact New Year date for a birth year near the boundary. The Element column above shows each animal's "fixed" element from its earthly branch; separately, a ruling element (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) rotates through every year, so the two cycles combine into a 60-year pattern (for example, 2024 was a Wood Dragon year).