Chinese Zodiac Signs: All 12 Animals
The Chinese zodiac (生肖, Sheng Xiao) is a 12-year cycle, with each year represented by an animal sign. Originating over 2,000 years ago, it remains one of the most widely recognized cultural systems in East Asia. Your zodiac sign reveals your personality traits, career strengths, romantic compatibility, and lucky elements.
The twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Each sign comes around once every 12 years. To determine your sign, you only need your birth year — though the exact boundary is the Chinese New Year, not January 1st.
Rat鼠 · 2020, 2008, 1996
Ox牛 · 2021, 2009, 1997
Tiger虎 · 2022, 2010, 1998
Rabbit兔 · 2023, 2011, 1999
Dragon龙 · 2024, 2012, 2000
Snake蛇 · 2025, 2013, 2001
Horse马 · 2026, 2014, 2002
Goat羊 · 2027, 2015, 2003
Monkey猴 · 2028, 2016, 2004
Rooster鸡 · 2029, 2017, 2005
Dog狗 · 2030, 2018, 2006
Pig猪 · 2031, 2019, 2007
How the Chinese Zodiac Works
The Chinese zodiac operates on a 12-year cycle, with each year assigned one of twelve animal signs. The cycle is based on the Earthly Branches (地支), an ancient system used for timekeeping, astronomy, and divination. Each animal is also paired with one of the Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water), creating a 60-year cycle known as the sexagenary cycle (六十甲子).
For example, 2026 is the year of the Fire Horse (丙午). The same combination will not repeat until 2086. This means that each person’s zodiac identity is uniquely shaped by both their animal sign and the element of their birth year.
The Zodiac Order and the Great Race Legend
According to the most popular folk legend, the Jade Emperor declared that the zodiac order would be determined by the order in which the animals crossed a great river. The Rat, clever and resourceful, rode on the Ox’s back and leaped off just before the finish line, winning first place. The Ox came second, followed by the Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.
The earliest surviving textual record of this twelve-animal system comes from Wang Chong’s Lunheng (论衡), written in the 1st century CE during the Eastern Han Dynasty. However, archaeological evidence — including Qin Dynasty bamboo slips — suggests the system may date back as far as the 3rd century BCE.
Compatibility and Relationships
One of the most practical applications of the Chinese zodiac is in compatibility analysis. The system identifies natural affinities and tensions between signs through several mechanisms:
- Four Trines (三合): Groups of three signs that harmonize naturally — Rat-Dragon-Monkey, Ox-Snake-Rooster, Tiger-Horse-Dog, Rabbit-Goat-Pig.
- Six Clashes (六冲): Six pairs of opposing signs that create productive friction — Rat-Horse, Ox-Goat, Tiger-Monkey, Rabbit-Rooster, Dragon-Dog, Snake-Pig.
- Six Harmonies (六合): Six pairs with special chemistry — Rat-Ox, Tiger-Pig, Rabbit-Dog, Dragon-Rooster, Snake-Monkey, Horse-Goat.
Want to check how you match with someone? Use our compatibility calculator or browse all 78 zodiac compatibility pairs.
Finding Your Exact Sign
Most people can find their zodiac sign simply by checking their birth year. However, there’s an important caveat: the Chinese zodiac year begins on the Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year), which falls between January 21 and February 20. If you were born in January or early February, you may belong to the previous year’s sign.
For example, someone born on February 3, 2024, is a Rabbit (not a Dragon), because the Year of the Dragon didn’t begin until February 10, 2024. Use our Zodiac Analyzer for an accurate result based on your exact birth date.
Ready to go deeper? Cast your full BaZi chart to discover your Four Pillars of Destiny — the year, month, day, and hour pillars that reveal the complete picture of your astrological profile.