Chinese zodiac signs – the character of the 12 animals, their years and elements

The Chinese horoscope is based not on solar months but on the lunar year. Your sign is determined by your year of birth – or, more precisely, by the Chinese year in which you were born. Each year has its patron: one of twelve animals which, according to tradition, has a profound influence on the character and fate of those born under its sign.

In this guide we focus on the character of each of the twelve signs: their strengths and weaker points, their approach to love and the traditional pointers on compatibility in relationships. For every animal you will also find the exact dates of its years between 1948 and 2008, along with the element – and at the end, an explanation of how the Chinese lunar calendar and the cycle of the five elements work.

How the Chinese horoscope works

The Chinese lunar calendar is regarded as the longest unbroken chronological record in the history of lunar astrology. According to tradition, it has been kept since 2637 BC, when the first zodiac cycle is said to have begun.

The lunar year is divided into 12 months, each lasting about 29.5 days. Such a year is shorter than the solar year, so on average every two to three years a leap month is added to keep the calendar in step with the seasons. For this reason Chinese New Year has no fixed date – it always falls between late January and mid-February. If you were born in January or early February, you should therefore check the exact date, as you may belong to the previous year’s sign.

The signs follow one another in a fixed order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. After twelve years the cycle begins again. Five of these simple cycles make up the great 60-year cycle, in which each animal is combined in turn with one of the five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. According to traditional reckoning, the current 78th cycle began in 1984 and will end in early 2044.

The legend of the twelve animals

According to a popular legend, before the Buddha departed from the earth he summoned all the animals to him. Only twelve of them came to bid him farewell, so in gratitude he named the years after them – in the order in which they arrived. The Rat came first, followed by the Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Boar. And so the signs of the Chinese zodiac were born.

The element and yin–yang of your sign

Each element rules two consecutive years: the first is yang (active) in character, the second yin (passive). It is easy to remember by the last digit of your year of birth:

0 and 1 – Metal,
2 and 3 – Water,
4 and 5 – Wood,
6 and 7 – Fire,
8 and 9 – Earth.

Even-numbered years are yang years and odd-numbered years are yin. The Rat, Tiger, Dragon, Horse, Monkey and Dog are yang signs, while the Ox, Rabbit, Snake, Goat, Rooster and Pig are yin signs. Remember, though, that the digit rule applies to the Chinese year, not the calendar year: someone born on 20 January 1977 still belongs to the 1976 year of the Fire Dragon.

The character of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs

Below you will find descriptions of all the signs in the traditional order of the cycle.

Rat – character

The Rat seems calm and balanced, yet beneath this mask lies an inner restlessness. Rats enjoy tangled, tense situations, although in the end these can throw them off balance. They are very sociable and love a bit of gossip and small sensations.

This is the opportunist type, who throughout life knows how to make the most of whatever their surroundings offer. Although they happily delegate work to others, they always see the tasks they start through to the end. Money is another matter: once they have made some, they can spend it very quickly.

The Rat is sentimental and can be very generous to the people they love. According to tradition, they are well matched with the Dragon, the Ox and the Monkey, but should avoid the Horse.

Years of the Rat

The Rat is a yang sign. Years of the Rat between 1948 and 2008, with their element:

10 February 1948 – 28 January 1949: Earth
28 January 1960 – 14 February 1961: Metal
15 February 1972 – 2 February 1973: Water
2 February 1984 – 19 February 1985: Wood
19 February 1996 – 6 February 1997: Fire

The cycle repeats every 12 years, so the following years of the Rat are 2008 (Earth) and 2020 (Metal). When checking your sign, pay attention to the exact date of Chinese New Year, which falls between late January and mid-February.

Ox (Buffalo) – character

The Ox (also called the Buffalo) is calm, patient, shy and precise. Oxen have a gift for winning people over, and this is often what lies behind their success. They can be loners, but time spent in quiet helps them know themselves better and understand their own needs.

The Ox is a conservative and finds it hard to accept anything new. They can work steadily and meticulously. It pains them deeply when their loved ones do not understand them, because family and friendships matter most to them.

In love the Ox can be tender and devoted, but rarely romantic. Grand passions are not in their nature, so they are sometimes disappointed when the reality of a relationship falls short of their expectations. The Rooster and the Rat are considered the ideal partners for the Ox.

Years of the Ox

The Ox is a yin sign. Years of the Ox between 1948 and 2008, with their element:

29 January 1949 – 16 February 1950: Earth
15 February 1961 – 4 February 1962: Metal
3 February 1973 – 22 January 1974: Water
20 February 1985 – 8 February 1986: Wood
7 February 1997 – 27 January 1998: Fire

The cycle repeats every 12 years, so the following years of the Ox are 2009 (Earth) and 2021 (Metal). When checking your sign, pay attention to the exact date of Chinese New Year, which falls between late January and mid-February.

Tiger – character

The Tiger is a rebel who refuses to live within the limits imposed by society, culture or institutions. Tigers are natural leaders, although they do not always enjoy the full trust of those they lead. They take risks bordering on recklessness, yet they are hard to resist. Even those who fear them or compete with them hold them in high regard.

Tigers rarely trust anyone unreservedly. If, however, they take time to think things over and seek advice, they can achieve great success. In small matters they can be selfish, but for an important cause they are capable of sacrificing everything. Tradition also credits them with exceptional luck.

The Tiger is capable of love, but their feelings burn out quickly and they lean towards short, tempestuous affairs. They do well in a relationship with the Horse or the Dragon, but should avoid the Snake and the Ox.

Years of the Tiger

The Tiger is a yang sign. Years of the Tiger between 1948 and 2008, with their element:

17 February 1950 – 5 February 1951: Metal
5 February 1962 – 24 January 1963: Water
23 January 1974 – 10 February 1975: Wood
9 February 1986 – 28 January 1987: Fire
28 January 1998 – 15 February 1999: Earth

The cycle repeats every 12 years, so the following years of the Tiger are 2010 (Metal) and 2022 (Water). When checking your sign, pay attention to the exact date of Chinese New Year, which falls between late January and mid-February.

Rabbit (Hare) – character

Fate usually smiles on the Rabbit (called the Hare in some sources). People born under this sign are cheerful and convinced that luck will stay by their side. They are intelligent, discreet and ambitious. They are hard to ignore, because they make excellent company – the Rabbit loves socialising and is well liked for it. They do, however, sometimes listen too eagerly to gossip and say one word too many.

Rabbits are not easily provoked; they are peaceable by nature and cannot bear to see others harmed. They are sentimental and easily moved, and at the same time conservative. Tradition predicts success for them in financial matters.

The Rabbit is not a typical homebody, and family life does not always come first. They get on well with the Goat, the Dog and the Pig.

Years of the Rabbit

The Rabbit is a yin sign. Years of the Rabbit between 1948 and 2008, with their element:

6 February 1951 – 26 January 1952: Metal
25 January 1963 – 12 February 1964: Water
11 February 1975 – 30 January 1976: Wood
29 January 1987 – 16 February 1988: Fire
16 February 1999 – 4 February 2000: Earth

The cycle repeats every 12 years, so the following years of the Rabbit are 2011 (Metal) and 2023 (Water). When checking your sign, pay attention to the exact date of Chinese New Year, which falls between late January and mid-February.

Dragon – character

The Dragon is strong, mysterious and usually in high spirits. Dragons want to match the very best, but sometimes give too much of themselves. They can be touchy and stubborn, yet they are also capable of giving shrewd advice.

Whatever they do and whoever they are, they do it well – so the choice of a particular career path does not matter all that much to them. The Dragon is loved, although they themselves rarely love truly deeply. Tradition advises them not to rush into marriage: they need to mature emotionally before taking such a step.

The Dragon often feels that many people do not understand them. At such times they forget that their sign is the symbol of the greatest strength, life and growth. They must be careful, though, that in shining day after day they do not forget who they really are.

The Rooster, the Pig and the Monkey are good choices for the Dragon. A relationship with the Tiger, on the other hand, risks constant rivalry.

Years of the Dragon

The Dragon is a yang sign. Years of the Dragon between 1948 and 2008, with their element:

27 January 1952 – 13 February 1953: Water
13 February 1964 – 1 February 1965: Wood
31 January 1976 – 17 February 1977: Fire
17 February 1988 – 5 February 1989: Earth
5 February 2000 – 23 January 2001: Metal

The cycle repeats every 12 years, so the following years of the Dragon are 2012 (Water) and 2024 (Wood). When checking your sign, pay attention to the exact date of Chinese New Year, which falls between late January and mid-February.

Snake – character

The Snake is valued for wisdom, goodwill and insight. Those born under this sign can be romantic, have real charm and achieve success with ease. They do not waste time on idle chatter – they are very much to the point. Worldly wisdom matters more to them than knowledge gained from books.

They have excellent intuition, and their “sixth sense” rarely lets them down. They make decisions quickly. They do not like lending money, although they are sometimes overly insistent in offering help. One of their weaker points is a tendency to exaggerate. Tradition credits the Snake with luck in finance and career.

In love the Snake can be jealous and possessive. They get on well with another Snake, as well as with the Ox and the Rooster. A relationship with the Pig or the Tiger is considered an unhappy one.

Years of the Snake

The Snake is a yin sign. Years of the Snake between 1948 and 2008, with their element:

14 February 1953 – 2 February 1954: Water
2 February 1965 – 20 January 1966: Wood
18 February 1977 – 6 February 1978: Fire
6 February 1989 – 26 January 1990: Earth
24 January 2001 – 11 February 2002: Metal

The cycle repeats every 12 years, so the following years of the Snake are 2013 (Water) and 2025 (Wood). When checking your sign, pay attention to the exact date of Chinese New Year, which falls between late January and mid-February.

Horse – character

The Horse always looks splendid, has a flair for style and loves being the centre of attention. They adore occasions when they can show themselves off in company at their best. They are quick and nimble in action, talented and practical, and more shrewd than inclined to theorise.

The Horse can be selfish and will go to great lengths to satisfy their ambitions, but they can also help others. They are independent, so they always choose their own path in life. Once they start a family, they want to play first fiddle in it and strive to give their loved ones both prosperity and love.

In love the Horse is soft-hearted and can lose themselves in it completely. When ambition gets the better of passion, however, they find it easier to follow the path of worldly success. They build a good life with the Goat, the Dog and the Tiger, but should not get involved with the Rat.

Years of the Horse

The Horse is a yang sign. Years of the Horse between 1948 and 2008, with their element:

3 February 1954 – 23 January 1955: Wood
21 January 1966 – 8 February 1967: Fire
7 February 1978 – 27 January 1979: Earth
27 January 1990 – 14 February 1991: Metal
12 February 2002 – 31 January 2003: Water

The cycle repeats every 12 years, so the following years of the Horse are 2014 (Wood) and 2026 (Fire). When checking your sign, pay attention to the exact date of Chinese New Year, which falls between late January and mid-February.

Goat (Sheep) – character

The Goat (also called the Sheep) is traditionally considered a feminine sign, associated with yin energy. Those born under its influence are extravagant and charming, and feel a strong bond with nature.

They are good people, though often pessimistic about life – they are rarely fully satisfied with what they have, and their whims can wear their friends out. They sometimes lack self-control, but they know how to be accommodating and are gifted. The Goat adapts well even to uncomfortable conditions. They readily confide in others, and when they have a problem they like their family and friends to give them advice, because they do not trust their own decisions.

They do not always show initiative or a willingness to take responsibility. Even so, Goats often build successful careers – provided they choose the right profession.

The Goat values a sense of security, including material security, and looks for it in a relationship. The Rabbit, the Horse and the Pig can give them a good life.

Years of the Goat

The Goat is a yin sign. Years of the Goat between 1948 and 2008, with their element:

24 January 1955 – 11 February 1956: Wood
9 February 1967 – 29 January 1968: Fire
28 January 1979 – 15 February 1980: Earth
15 February 1991 – 3 February 1992: Metal
1 February 2003 – 21 January 2004: Water

The cycle repeats every 12 years, so the following years of the Goat are 2015 (Wood) and 2027 (Fire). When checking your sign, pay attention to the exact date of Chinese New Year, which falls between late January and mid-February.

Monkey – character

Monkeys have a remarkable character. They can be sharp-tongued, wild, relentless and very witty. The Monkey is intelligent and well read, inventive, full of initiative and blessed with a talent for invention. They can, however, lead others up the garden path, and not always with scruples. Tradition says that luck rarely deserts them.

They usually succeed in politics, trade and diplomacy. In love they rarely find complete happiness: they fall in love easily, but fall out of it just as easily. The Monkey is a good partner for the Dragon and the Rat, while they enjoy mocking the Tiger.

Years of the Monkey

The Monkey is a yang sign. Years of the Monkey between 1948 and 2008, with their element:

12 February 1956 – 30 January 1957: Fire
30 January 1968 – 16 February 1969: Earth
16 February 1980 – 4 February 1981: Metal
4 February 1992 – 22 January 1993: Water
22 January 2004 – 8 February 2005: Wood

The cycle repeats every 12 years, so the following years of the Monkey are 2016 (Fire) and 2028 (Earth). When checking your sign, pay attention to the exact date of Chinese New Year, which falls between late January and mid-February.

Rooster – character

Roosters are brutally honest, open and uncompromising, sometimes to the point of disregarding other people’s feelings. They like to put on various masks to attract attention more easily, although at heart the Rooster is a conservative. They can be feisty and daring.

It is wise to take their grand plans with a pinch of salt: when it comes to the future and business, the Rooster can be more of a dreamer than a realist. If, however, they learn to keep their dreams in check, they can grow wealthy and live comfortably.

The Rooster can make an excellent partner. In love they more often hurt themselves than the other person, and despite deep commitment they sometimes give in to temptation. They like to shine in company and constantly need a sense of their own worth – sometimes even of superiority over others.

Years of the Rooster

The Rooster is a yin sign. Years of the Rooster between 1948 and 2008, with their element:

31 January 1957 – 17 February 1958: Fire
17 February 1969 – 5 February 1970: Earth
5 February 1981 – 24 January 1982: Metal
23 January 1993 – 9 February 1994: Water
9 February 2005 – 28 January 2006: Wood

The cycle repeats every 12 years, so the following years of the Rooster are 2017 (Fire) and 2029 (Earth). When checking your sign, pay attention to the exact date of Chinese New Year, which falls between late January and mid-February.

Dog – character

The Dog is a perpetual worrier, but always ready to stand up for others. Dogs are introverts and rarely show their feelings – only when they judge it truly necessary. They have a sharp tongue, which those around them can find hard to bear.

The Dog is a pessimist who expects little from life, yet they stand in the front line of those fighting injustice. They are loyal, faithful, noble and trusting. They suffer when a friend suffers. Thanks to their loyalty and devotion, they do well as leaders, community activists, managers and educators.

In love the Dog is sincere, straightforward, faithful and devoted. They can, however, be full of doubts and underestimate themselves, which can lead them to sabotage their own relationships. With the exception of the Goat, the Dog can get along with every sign.

Years of the Dog

The Dog is a yang sign. Years of the Dog between 1948 and 2008, with their element:

18 February 1958 – 7 February 1959: Earth
6 February 1970 – 26 January 1971: Metal
25 January 1982 – 12 February 1983: Water
10 February 1994 – 30 January 1995: Wood
29 January 2006 – 17 February 2007: Fire

The cycle repeats every 12 years, so the following years of the Dog are 2018 (Earth) and 2030 (Metal). When checking your sign, pay attention to the exact date of Chinese New Year, which falls between late January and mid-February.

Pig (Boar) – character

The Pig (also called the Boar) can be naive, overly trusting and defenceless. They are easily hurt, but do not bear a grudge for long. They are sometimes economical with the truth. They have no particular love of making money, and decision-making does not come easily to them.

The Pig does not have many friends, but once they accept someone, that friendship lasts a lifetime. Because they do not want to upset anyone and adapt to others, they easily fall into the wrong company.

The Pig is capable of love, but their indecisiveness often complicates their love life. Their best partner is the Rabbit. They should not get involved with the Snake, the Dragon, the Dog or the Goat.

Years of the Pig

The Pig is a yin sign. Years of the Pig between 1948 and 2008, with their element:

8 February 1959 – 27 January 1960: Earth
27 January 1971 – 14 February 1972: Metal
13 February 1983 – 1 February 1984: Water
31 January 1995 – 18 February 1996: Wood
18 February 2007 – 6 February 2008: Fire

The cycle repeats every 12 years, so the following years of the Pig are 2019 (Earth) and 2031 (Metal). When checking your sign, pay attention to the exact date of Chinese New Year, which falls between late January and mid-February.

The five elements – the cycle of creation and the cycle of control

The foundation of the Chinese lunar horoscope is the web of connections and dependencies between the elements. Chinese philosophy holds that the entire cosmos is made up of five elements, and that the relationships between them are either supportive (creative) or controlling.

The cycle of creation

Metal gives rise to Water,
Water gives rise to Wood,
Wood gives rise to Fire,
Fire gives rise to Earth,
Earth gives rise to Metal.

The cycle of control

Metal is controlled by Fire,
Fire is controlled by Water,
Water is controlled by Earth,
Earth is controlled by Wood,
Wood is controlled by Metal.

In this philosophy no element is the strongest or the weakest. All are bound by a chain of mutual dependencies that creates and sustains life. That is why the same animal sign may express itself somewhat differently depending on the element of the year – the Water Dragon of 1952 and the Fire Dragon of 1976 share the same core character, but with different shades of temperament.

The Moon in Chinese tradition

Since the dawn of time the Moon’s pull has governed the ebb and flow of the oceans. Chinese culture developed in close harmony with the rhythm of the Moon and in the belief that it also has an enormous influence on people. That is why, in China, the calendar, festivals and horoscope are based on the lunar cycle rather than on the Sun’s journey through the signs of the zodiac.

How to read Chinese compatibility pointers

The pointers on which signs a given sign is well matched with come from tradition and are not always entirely consistent – for example, the Pig is recommended for the Dragon, while the description of the Pig advises caution towards the Dragon. Treat them as food for thought about the dynamics of a relationship rather than as a verdict. Your Chinese sign describes the general temperament attributed to your year of birth; what makes a relationship work is, above all, communication, respect and shared values.