Chinese Zodiac Calculator
Find your Chinese zodiac animal, element, and personality traits based on your birth year.
Note: Chinese New Year falls between 21 Jan and 20 Feb. If you were born in January or early February, your zodiac animal may be from the previous year.
Chinese zodiac — more than just animals
The Chinese zodiac (Shengxiao, meaning "born likeness") is one of the oldest known astrological systems, with roots going back more than 2,000 years. Unlike the Western zodiac which is based on birth month, the Chinese zodiac assigns an animal based on your birth year in a repeating 12-year cycle.
But the system is deeper than just 12 animals. Each year also has an associated element (Metal, Water, Wood, Fire, or Earth) and a Yin or Yang polarity. The element cycle is 10 years long (each element covers two consecutive years), and the full cycle of all combinations takes 60 years to repeat.
- The 12 animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Legend says the order was decided by a race — the Rat cleverly hitched a ride on the Ox and jumped off at the finish line to win.
- Five elements: Metal (discipline, strength), Water (flexibility, intelligence), Wood (growth, generosity), Fire (passion, energy), and Earth (stability, patience). Your element modifies the base traits of your animal sign.
- Yin and Yang: Even years are Yang (active, outgoing) and odd years are Yin (receptive, introspective). This adds another layer of personality nuance.
- Chinese New Year: The zodiac follows the Chinese lunar calendar, so the new year falls between 21 January and 20 February each year. If you were born in January or early February, you may belong to the previous year's animal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Chinese zodiac?
The Chinese zodiac (Shengxiao) is a repeating 12-year cycle where each year is represented by an animal: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. It is based on the Chinese lunar calendar and has been used for centuries to determine personality traits, compatibility, and fortune.
What Chinese zodiac animal am I?
Your Chinese zodiac animal is determined by your birth year. The 12 animals repeat in a fixed cycle: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Enter your birth year in the calculator above to find your exact animal, element, and personality profile.
What are the five elements in Chinese astrology?
The five elements are Metal, Water, Wood, Fire, and Earth. Each element governs a two-year period, creating a 10-year element cycle that combines with the 12-year animal cycle to form a full 60-year cycle. Your element is determined by the last digit of your birth year: 0-1 Metal, 2-3 Water, 4-5 Wood, 6-7 Fire, 8-9 Earth.
Which Chinese zodiac signs are compatible?
Compatibility in the Chinese zodiac is based on animal groupings. The most compatible groups are: Rat-Dragon-Monkey, Ox-Snake-Rooster, Tiger-Horse-Dog, and Rabbit-Goat-Pig. Animals in the same group are believed to share complementary traits and get along well.