Chinese Zodiac
Chinese Zodiac 2025 & 2026
What year is 2025 in Chinese zodiac? Chinese New Year 2025 is a year of the Snake, the fifth of the twelve zodiac years, starting from Jan 29th, 2025 and lasting to Feb 16th, 2026 (the 2026 Chinese New Year’s Eve). 2026 will be a year of the Horse.
What is the Chinese Zodiac?
The Chinese zodiac, also known as Sheng Xiao or Shu Xiang, is a repeating circle of 12 years. Each year is represented by an animal. So there are 12 animal signs in Chinese zodiac which are Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig in order.
Legends and mythology are a big part of Chinese culture, especially in relation to the Chinese Zodiac. The depiction on a circular chart of 12 different animals representing the 12-year cycle of the Chinese lunar calendar was built on the foundation of astronomy and Chinese astrology which has existed for over 5,000 years.
The Chinese Lunar Calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, and is constructed in a different fashion than the Western solar calendar. In the Chinese calendar, the beginning of the year falls somewhere between late January and early February.
What is My Chinese Zodiac Sign?
Your birth year determines your Chinese zodiac animal. The table below shows the 12 Chinese zodiac animals with recent years for you to check out your Chinese zodiac animal sign. For example, 1988 is a year of the Dragon. If you were born in 1988, your Chinese zodiac sign is the Dragon, and you are known as a "Dragon". This works for most people. However, if you are born in early February, you should pay close attention and check the Chinese lunar calendar.
A Chinese zodiac animal sign is not defined by the Chinese New Year, but Lichun. Lichun, meaning the start of spring, is the first of the 24 solar terms of traditional Chinese lunar calendar, which usually falls on February 3, 4 or 5. For example, if your child was born on January 31, 2021, his/her year animal is Rat, not Ox.
If you are still confused on what zodiac sign you are in Chinese zodiac, simply leave us a comment with your birthday information, and we will get back to you with your year animal promptly.
Chinese Zodiac Animal | Recent Years | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020, 2032 | |||||||||
1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021, 2033 | |||||||||
1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022, 2034 | |||||||||
1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023, 2035 | |||||||||
1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024, 2036 | |||||||||
1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025, 2037 | |||||||||
1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026, 2038 | |||||||||
1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027, 2039 | |||||||||
1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028, 2040 | |||||||||
1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029, 2041 | |||||||||
1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030, 2042 | |||||||||
1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031, 2043 | |||||||||
Chinese Zodiac Calculator
Chinese Zodiac Compatibility
Chinese zodiac animal compatibilities are derived from Three Harmonies (San He) and Six Harmonies (Liu He) of Chinese astrology. Both Three Harmonies and Six Harmonies are good, but in general Three Harmonies is better than Six Harmonies.
Three Harmonies (San He)
There are four trines of three Chinese zodiac animals each that get along the best.
Six Harmonies (Liu He)
Six Harmonies of Chinese astrology means six groups of two zodiac signs that help each other secretly. The six compatible groups are: Rat and Ox, Rabbit and Dog, Tiger and Pig, Dragon and Rooster, Snake and Monkey, Horse and Sheep.
Here below is the easiest way to find your compatible Chinese zodiac animals for love, friendship and child parent relationship.
Chinese Zodiac Animal | Best Compatibility | Second Best Compatibility |
|---|---|---|
Rat | Dragon, Monkey | Ox |
Ox | Snake, Rooster | Rat |
Tiger | Horse, Dog | Pig |
Rabbit | Goat, Pig | Dog |
Dragon | Rat, Monkey | Rooster |
Snake | Ox, Rooster | Monkey |
Horse | Tiger, Dog | Goat |
Goat | Rabbit, Pig | Horse |
Monkey | Rat, Dragon | Snake |
Rooster | Ox, Snake | Dragon |
Dog | Tiger, Horse | Rabbit |
Pig | Rabbit, Goat | Tiger |
Chinese Zodiac Signs and Elements
In Chinese astrology and Feng Shui, the world is composed of Five Elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Each of the twelve Chinese zodiac animals belongs to one of the five elements:
Five Elements | Chinese Zodiac Animal | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Metal | Monkey, Rooster | ||||||||
Wood | Tiger, Rabbit | ||||||||
Water | Rat, Pig | ||||||||
Fire | Snake, Horse | ||||||||
Earth | Ox, Dragon, Goat, Dog | ||||||||
12 Zodiac Animal Signs Personalities
These 12 animals listed below represent the rotating 12-year cycle forming the basis of the Chinese Zodiac. And we also list the characteristics of those born in the zodiac year of the listed animals.
Rat
Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Rat are quick-witted, clever, charming, sharp and funny. They have excellent taste, are a nice friend and are generous and loyal to others considered part of its pack. They, motivated by money, can be greedy, are very curious, seek knowledge and welcome challenges.
Ox
Persons born in the Year of the Ox are diligent, patient and rather silent. They are reliable as friends. But they are easy to irritate and tend to be stubborn and obstinate, and may feel lonely and insecure.
Tiger
Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Tiger are sensitive, emotional and thoughtful but may also intend to be impatient. Others pay them respect but they sometimes get into conflicts of authority with elder people. They also have the guts to take risks and are very success- oriented. They have strong leadership qualities, and are ready to pounce any time.
Rabbit
Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Rabbit enjoy being surrounded by family and friends. They're popular, compassionate, sincere, and they like to avoid conflict and are sometimes seen as pushovers. Rabbits enjoy home and entertaining at home.
Dragon
A powerful sign, those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Dragon are energetic and warm-hearted, charismatic, egotistic and lucky at love. They're natural born leaders, good at giving orders and doing what's necessary to remain on top.
Snake
People born in the Year of the Snake are seductive, gregarious, introverted, generous, charming, analytical, insecure, jealous, slightly dangerous, smart, and good with money. They rely on gut feelings, are hard-working and intelligent.
Horse
Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Horse love to roam free. They're energetic, self-reliant, money-wise, and they enjoy traveling, love and intimacy. They're great at seducing, sharp-witted, impatient and sometimes seen as a drifter.
Goat
Persons born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Goat enjoy being alone in their thoughts. They're creative, thinkers, wanderers, unorganized, high-strung and insecure, and can be anxiety-ridden. They need lots of love, support and reassurance. Appearance is important too.
Monkey
Those born in the year of the Monkey thrive on having fun. They're energetic, upbeat, and good at listening but lack self-control. They like being active and stimulated and enjoy pleasing self before pleasing others. They're heart-breakers, not good at long-term relationships, morals are weak.
Rooster
People born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Rooster are practical, resourceful, observant, analytical, straightforward, trusting, honest, perfectionists, neat and conservative.
Dog
Dogs are loyal, faithful, honest, distrustful, often guilty of telling white lies, temperamental, prone to mood swings, dogmatic, and sensitive. They excel in business but have trouble finding mates.
Pig
Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Pig are extremely nice, good-mannered and tasteful. They're perfectionists who enjoy finer things but are not perceived as snobs. They enjoy helping others and are good companions until someone close crosses them, then look out! They're intelligent, always seeking more knowledge, and exclusive.
Legend
According to Chinese legend, the twelve animals quarreled one day as to who was to head the cycle of years. The gods were asked to decide and they held a competition: whoever was to reach the opposite bank of the river would be first, and the rest of the animals would receive their years according to their finish.
All the twelve animals gathered at the river bank and jumped in. Unknown to the ox, the rat had jumped into its ear. As the ox was about to jump ashore, the rat jumped out of the ox's ear, and won the race. The pig, who was very lazy, ended up last. That is why the rat is the first year of the animal cycle, the ox second and the pig last. >> Read more Chinese zodiac stories and legends
What is the Chinese zodiac based on? -- Science Evidence
The twelve zodiac signs are the twelve animals in China that match the Dizhi -- twelve earthly branches to the year of a person's birth. The origin of the twelve zodiac signs is related to animal worship. According to the bamboo slips of the Qin Dynasty unearthed in Yunmeng, Hubei, and Fangmatan, Tianshui, Gansu, a relatively complete zodiac system existed as early as the pre-Qin period. The earliest document to record the same twelve zodiac signs as today is Wang Chong's Analects of Heng in the Eastern Han Dynasty. The twelve zodiac signs are figurative representations of the twelve earthly branches, namely the zi (Rat), chou (ox), yin (Tiger), mou (Rabbit), chen (Dragon), si (Snake), wu (Horse), wei (Goat), shen (Monkey), you (Roost), xu (Dog) and hai (Pig), which gradually fused with the development of history into the folk beliefs of mutual birth and death, manifesting themselves in marriage, life and annual fortune.
There are legends and stories about each Chinese zodiac sign. In this way a system of conceptual interpretation forms and becomes a figurative philosophy in folk culture, such as the sign of the zodiac in marriage, temple prayers and the Chinese New Year.
Therefore, it is widely believed that the twelve Chinese zodiac signs were probably based on the twelve earthly branches.
Chinese Zodiac Signs' Lucky Things
| Chinese Zodiac Signs | Lucky numbers | Lucky colors | Lucky flowers | Lucky months | Lucky direction |
| Rat | 4, 9, 1, 6 | gold, white, blue, green | lily, Lily of the Valley | the 1st, 3rd, and 12th Chinese lunar months | west, northeast, southeast |
| Ox | 0, 2, 5, 7 | yellow | tulip, peach blossom | the 2nd, 3rd, 10th Chinese lunar month | west, north and northeast |
| Tiger | 1, 3, 4 | blue, gray, black, green | cineraria | the 1st, 2nd, 10th, 11th Chinese lunar month | north, east, southeast |
| Rabbit | 1, 3, 4, 6 | blue, yellow, green, red, pink, purple | Jasmine, plantain lily, cyclamen | the 1st, 4th, 8th, and 11th Chinese lunar months | east (for wealth), south and northwest |
| Dragon | 1, 6, 8, 2, 7 | yellow, green, red, purple, brown | Forget-me-not, viole | the 2nd, 3rd, and 7th Chinese lunar months | east, northeast |
| Snake | 2, 8, 9 | red, light yellow, black | orchid, cactus | the 1st, 8th and 11th Chinese lunar months | west, south, southwest |
| Horse | 3, 4, 9 | green, red, pink | jasmine | the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th Chinese lunar months | east, southeast, south |
| Goat | 2, 5, 8, 9 | yellow, brown, red, pink, purple | carnations, primroses | the 3rd to 6th, 9th, 12th Chinese lunar months | south, southwest |
| Monkey | 6, 7, 8 | brown, gold, silver | chrysanthemum | the 3rd, 6th, 7th, 9th Chinese lunar months | west, northwest, northeast, southwest |
| Rooster | 0, 5, 4, 9 | yellow, white, golden | cockscomb | the 1st, 2nd, 8th, and 10th Chinese lunar months | west, southwest and northeast |
| Dog | 3, 4, 9 | Red, Green and purple | rose, cymbidium and orchids | the 6th, 10th, and 12th Chinese lunar months | east, south, and northeast |
| Pig | 1, 4, 7 | black, grey, golden | hydrangea, nepenthes, Gerbera | the 1st, 2nd, and 6th Chinese lunar months | southwest, Northeast, south, north |
What is the Luckiest Chinese Zodiac Sign?
In ancient times, the Dragon was a beast of prey, and those born in the Chinese zodiac year of the Dragon carry a noble aura, and most Dragon people have relatively good luck.
The Horse has a positive and optimistic personality and will always face any difficulties with a good attitude.
People born in the zodiac year of the Pig are more blessed. Pig people are more easily satisfied and have a more comfortable life from childhood, without obsessive pursuits.
What is the Unluckiest Chinese Zodiac Sign?
It is believed that most people born in the zodiac years of Rat and Goat are destined for bad luck.
According to the projections of the Chinese zodiacs, the Rats’s fortune, luck and fate are not very good in their life.
The saying "nine out of ten Goats are incomplete" (十羊九不全) has long been circulating among the people, meaning that nine out of ten Goat people have a bad fate and only one can have a rich life. The saying comes from the late Qing Dynasty, when some folk opposed the rule of Empress Dowager Cixi, who was a Goat, and claimed that her genus misled the country. However, on the contrary, the Goat was historically considered to be a symbol of stability, wealth and beauty.