The year of your birth—and the Chinese zodiac sign that governs it—can tell you a lot about your personality, interests, romantic compatibility and career path. Learn about your Chinese horoscope.
What is my Chinese zodiac animal?
How does the Chinese zodiac work?
In addition to your Sun-sign based Western zodiac sign, you can also find out your Chinese horoscope sign. Based on a completely different system (which includes lunar calculations), the Chinese astrological calendar changes annually. The Chinese lunar new year corresponds with the Aquarius new moon, which always falls between January 20 and February 18 (the actual date varies each year).
The Chinese zodiac, Sheng Xiao, is based on a 12-year cycle. Every year corresponds to a different animal symbol: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.
It is calculated according to Chinese lunar calendar, which dates back as far as the 21st century B.C. While China follows the Western (solar) calendar for day-to-day activity, the Chinese lunar calendar is still widely used for festivals, horoscopes and choosing auspicious dates.
How do I find my Chinese zodiac sign?
Use our Chinese Zodiac Sign Calculator to learn your Chinese astrology zodiac sign
Find your Chinese Zodiac Sign
What Chinese zodiac signs go well together?
These Chinese zodiac signs are compatible
Dragon—Monkey—Rat
Snake—Rooster—Ox
Horse—Dog—Tiger
Sheep—Pig—Rabbit
What do Chinese zodiac elements mean?
The Chinese elements: Wood, Water, Metal, Fire & Earth
The Chinese zodiac is further divided into five key elements of nature, or Wu Xing: wood, water, metal, fire and earth. Each lunar year is governed by a different element. For example:
The Year of the Water Tiger (2022)
The Year of the Metal Ox (2021)
The Year of the Metal Rat (2020)
The Year of the Earth Pig (2019)
The Year of the Earth Dog (2018)
The Year of the Fire Rooster (2017)
The Year of the Fire Monkey (2016)
The Year of the Wood Sheep (2015)
The individual Chinese zodiac signs are linked to one of the five elements
This element most closely expresses the nature of this Chinese animal. Each element is also linked to a planet.
Wood (Jupiter): Tiger, Rabbit
Water (Mercury): Rat, Pig
Metal (Venus): Monkey, Rooster
Fire (Mars): Horse, Snake
Earth (Saturn): Dragon, Dog, Ox, Sheep
The five elements also correspond to specific colors, hours of the day, compass directions and bodily organs, which inform everything from Chinese medicine to Feng Shui.
The five elements have a symbiotic relationship: Metal generates water; water feeds wood; wood sustains fire; fire makes earth (ash); earth (ash) creates metal.
They also have a destructive manifestation: Fire melts metal; metal cuts wood; wood breaks earth; earth absorbs water; water puts out fire.
What are the Chinese zodiac equivalents of Western signs?
Aries: Dragon
Taurus: Snake
Gemini: Horse
Cancer: Sheep
Leo: Monkey
Virgo: Rooster
Libra: Dog
Scorpio: Pig
Sagittarius: Rat
Capricorn: Ox
Aquarius: Tiger
Pisces: Rabbit
