Chinese Zodiac: What Is My Chinese Zodiac And Who Is Most Compatible With Me?

Written by Matteo Updated Mar. 8, 2024

Chinese zodiac (sheng xiao) includes a total of 12 animal signs. The animals are Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. They are used to tell the year. The signs change each lunar year on a rotating cycle, which can influence people’s compatibility, personality, and horoscope.

Chinese zodiac years begin and end during the Chinese New Year in January or February. 2024 is the year of the dragon, lasting from Feb. 10, 2024, to Jan. 28, 2025.

What is My Chinese Zodiac Sign?

There are 12 signs in the Chinese zodiac. Every year has a zodiac animal sign. Your zodiac sign is decided by your birth year. For example, 1977 is the year of the Snake, if you were born in 1977, then your Chinese zodiac animal is the Snake.

Chinese Zodiac Calculator

If you don't know your Chinese zodiac sign, use the Chinese Zodiac Signs Calculator to find out your zodiac sign.

Chinese Zodiac Years

In ancient times, the Chinese zodiac is a system to tell the year. Each year is represented by an animal. It is a recycling circle of 12 years. The Chinese zodiac year starts on the Chinese lunar New Year, which is about one or two months behind the Gregorian calendar.

The table below lists the recent Chinese Zodiac Years:

Zodiac Animal Zodiac Signs in Chinese Zodiac  Years
Rat 鼠 shǔ ... 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 ...
Ox 牛 niú ... 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021 ...
Tiger 虎 hǔ ... 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022 ...
Rabbit 兔 tù ... 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023 ...
Dragon 龙 lóng ... 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024 ...
Snake 蛇 shé ... 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025 ...
Horse 马 mǎ ... 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026 ...
Goat 羊 yáng ... 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027 ...
Monkey 猴 hóu ... 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028 ...
Rooster 鸡 jī ... 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029 ...
Dog 狗 gǒu ... 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030 ...
Pig 猪 zhū ... 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031 ...

The 12 Chinese Zodiac Signs

Click the following zodiac animals below to explore their personality, romantic love compatibility, lucky things, and fortune prediction for 2024.

Chinese Zodiac Compatibility - Who Is Most Compatible With Me?

Chinese Zodiac Compatibility Chart
Chinese zodiac compatibility chart: find out who is your best pair

Chinese zodiac match was used to find one’s best partner in love in ancient times. Zodiac compatibility was usually checked before people got married in China.

People's zodiac signs are believed to have determined their personalities and if they are compatible with others. Some zodiac signs are believed to be the best pair while others may be the worst match.

Check out what is your most compatible sign below.

Chinese Zodiac Compatibility Calculator

 

Best Matches for the 12 Chinese Zodiac Signs

You may want to read more about Chinese zodiac compatibility.

Chinese Zodiac Horoscope in 2024

Find your Chinese zodiac horoscope in the chart below.

  • Rat
  • Ox
  • Tiger
  • Rabbit
  • Dragon
  • Snake
  • Horse
  • Goat
  • Monkey
  • Rooster
  • Dog
  • Pig

Dragon's Horoscope in 2024

2024 is Benmingnian for people born in the Year of the Dragon. They may be troubled by challenges in their life, but the Dragon also persists in learning practical skills for a happy life and supporting their family.

Read more on Chinese horoscope for zodiac sign Dragon.

Chinese Zodiac Signs' Personality

  • Rat: Alertness, smartness, and Resourceful
  • Ox: Practical and well-grounded with a strong devotion to work
  • Tiger: Active and full of valor and vigor
  • Rabbit: Friendly, seldom offend others or argues with others
  • Dragon: Active, brave, aggressive, and domineering.
  • Snake: Cold and mysterious outside; warm and kind inside
  • Horse: Optimistic, energetic, and cheerful
  • Goat: Tender, thoughtful, honest, and kind-hearted;
  • Monkey: Ambitious, smart, and versatile
  • Rooster: Dedicated, gifted, bold, and ingenious
  • Dog: Loyal, courageous, and firm
  • Pig: Generous and have a great sense of responsibility

Chinese Zodiac 1988 - Year of the Dragon

1988 is the Year of the Dragon. According to the cycle of the Chinese five elements, 1988 is also the Year of the Earth Dragon, which is known for its independence. Therefore, people born in 1988 are able to handle many matters in their life by themselves.

But the Dragon is alone in daily life as their personal characteristics. They need to communicate frequently with friends in order to develop good interpersonal relationships.

Read more on 1988 the Year of the Earth Dragon.

Chinese Zodiac 1987 and 1989

The Chinese zodiac sign for 1987 is the Rabbit. People born in the Year of the Rabbit are inclined to be sensitive, thoughtful and gentle. But they cannot make a decisive decision when face with different choices.

The Chinese zodiac sign for 1989 is the Snake. The Snake is said to be honest, wise and energetic. As combined with Chinese five elements, 1989 is also called the Year of the Earth Snake.

Read more on 1987 the Year of the Rabbit and 1989 the Year of the Snake.

Chinese Zodiac Signs' Lucky and Unlucky Things

Find the luckiest things for your zodiac sign. Following the lucky things and avoiding the unlucky things will bring you good luck.

Rat's Lucky Things and Unlucky Things

  • Lucky Colors: blue, green
  • Lucky Numbers: 2, 3, 5
  • Lucky Direction: northeast
  • Unlucky Colors: white, yellow
  • Unlucky Numbers: 1, 8, 9
  • Unlucky Direction: northwest

Ox's Lucky Things and Unlucky Things

  • Lucky Colors: green, white
  • Lucky Numbers: 1, 4, 9
  • Lucky Direction: southeast
  • Unlucky Colors: red, purple
  • Unlucky Numbers: 3, 5, 6
  • Unlucky Direction: north

Tiger's Lucky Things and Unlucky Things

  • Lucky Colors: blue, orange
  • Lucky Numbers: 1, 2, 3
  • Lucky Direction: east
  • Unlucky Colors: gold, silver
  • Unlucky Numbers: 6, 7, 8
  • Unlucky Direction: west

Rabbit's Lucky Things and Unlucky Things

  • Lucky Colors: purple, pink
  • Lucky Numbers: 3, 7, 9
  • Lucky Direction: west
  • Unlucky Colors: white, yellow
  • Unlucky Numbers: 1, 6, 8
  • Unlucky Direction: north

Dragon's Lucky Things and Unlucky Things

  • Lucky Colors: golden, silver
  • Lucky Numbers: 1, 6, 7
  • Lucky Direction: east
  • Unlucky Colors: green, blue
  • Unlucky Numbers: 3, 8, 9
  • Unlucky Direction: west

Snake's Lucky Things and Unlucky Things

  • Lucky Colors: red, black
  • Lucky Numbers: 6, 8, 9
  • Lucky Direction: southwest
  • Unlucky Colors: blue, white
  • Unlucky Numbers: 1, 4, 7
  • Unlucky Direction: east

Horse's Lucky Things and Unlucky Things

  • Lucky Colors: yellow, purple
  • Lucky Numbers: 3, 5, 7
  • Lucky Direction: southwest
  • Unlucky Colors: brown, gold
  • Unlucky Numbers: 1, 2, 4
  • Unlucky Direction: north

Goat's Lucky Things and Unlucky Things

  • Lucky Colors: white, brown
  • Lucky Numbers: 2, 4, 7
  • Lucky Direction: south
  • Unlucky Colors: black, gold
  • Unlucky Numbers: 1, 5, 8
  • Unlucky Direction: east

Monkey's Lucky Things and Unlucky Things

  • Lucky Colors: back, grey
  • Lucky Numbers: 1, 4, 6
  • Lucky Direction: northwest
  • Unlucky Colors: red, green
  • Unlucky Numbers: 2, 5, 9
  • Unlucky Direction: southeast

Rooster's Lucky Things and Unlucky Things

  • Lucky Colors: yellow, brown
  • Lucky Numbers: 5, 7, 8
  • Lucky Direction: east
  • Unlucky Colors: white, pink
  • Unlucky Numbers: 1, 3, 9
  • Unlucky Direction: west

Dog's Lucky Things and Unlucky Things

  • Lucky Colors: red, green
  • Lucky Numbers: 3, 4, 9
  • Lucky Direction: south
  • Unlucky Colors: brown, yellow
  • Unlucky Numbers: 1, 6, 7
  • Unlucky Direction: north

Pig's Lucky Things and Unlucky Things

  • Lucky Colors: grey, orange
  • Lucky Numbers: 2, 5, 8
  • Lucky Direction: north
  • Unlucky Colors: red, blue
  • Unlucky Numbers: 0, 3, 9
  • Unlucky Direction: west

Here are more about lucky colors for each Chinese zodiac signs.

Other Lucky Signs for Chinese Zodiac

Lucky flowers are a symbol of charm. It can be useful to know which flowers are auspicious for each Chinese zodiac sign when presenting gifts or decorating your rooms.

Every dog has his day, and the Chinese zodiac signs are no exception. Each Chinese zodiac sign has its lucky years and lucky days when these zodiac animals are likely to achieve their goals.

2024 Chinese Zodiac Lucky Predictions

According to Chinese astrology, a person’s fortune is decided by his/her zodiac sign. Thus, the Chinese have developed a theory to predict people’s horoscopes based on their birth years.

Is 2024 a lucky year? For some zodiac signs, it is, but for others, it may be a very bad year. Read the predictions on What are the luckiest zodiac signs in 2024.

How to be Lucky in Your Chinese Zodiac Years (Ben Ming Nian)

It is widely believed if the year is the same as your zodiac sign, you will be unlucky all year. Many Chinese people think one’s zodiac year is a hurdle to jump over. 2024 is the year of the dragon, dragons should particularly be careful.

The way to protect yourself from bad luck and evil spirits is to wear red things such as red underwear, and a red belt. etc. Even though it seems superstitious, Chinese people treat it as a real concern. That is the reason why you will see red things sold everywhere on the Chinese New Year market.

Read more details on How to be Lucky in Your Chinese Zodiac Year.

What Is the Luckiest Zodiac Sign?

According to Chinese astrology, some of the Chinese zodiac signs are destined for good luck. They are Rats, Dragons, Pigs, Oxen, and Snakes.

Being quick-witted and smart, Rat men will usually have a great chance to marry a beautiful wife.

Dragon is the most powerful zodiac sign. People born in the year of the dragon are confident, so they are more likely to make great achievements in a career.

The Pig is thought of as a lucky zodiac sign as it is the symbol of wealth, happiness, and honesty in Chinese culture.

Ox is the symbol of diligence. The ox zodiac sign is particularly blessed by God to get a prosperous fortune.

The snake is an enigmatic animal among the 12 Chinese zodiac signs. They like to work alone and to be quiet most of the time.

What Is the Unluckiest Chinese Zodiac Sign?

The Goat was generally thought to be the unluckiest sign in the Chinese zodiac. Maybe it’s because Empress Dowager Cixi’s zodiac sign is Goat, there is a popular saying that 90% of Goats are inadequate (十羊九不全) in Chinese folk.

It is thought that most people born in the year of the Goat are destined for bad luck. So many Chinese people would not want to have babies in the Goat years.

Chinese Zodiac Story

According to ancient records, the origins of the zodiac came from the “totems” of ancient tribes. Each tribe had its unique animal symbol as its protecting deity.

Legend gives another interesting explanation: the grand race. The race was organized by the King of Heaven who controlled all of the universes. These 12 animals won the race and thus were chosen as the zodiac year animals.

Why the little rat could be the first sign? Why the cat is not in the 12 zodiac sign? Read more on the Chinese zodiac story.

Chinese Zodiac Elements

Each zodiac year is associated with one of the five elements: wood, earth, fire, water, and metal.

For example, for the dragon years, there are years of the wood dragon, earth dragon, water dragon, and metal dragon. 2024 is the year of the wood dragon. The next wood dragon will come in 60 years.

Read more details on Chinese Zodiac Elements.

Chinese Zodiac Hours

In ancient China, each day was divided into 12 two-hour periods. each period was represented by a zodiac animal by that animal's nature.

Many Chinese believe the hour of your birth is more important than the year you were born. Therefore, Chinese zodiac hours can be particularly informative when analyzing your personality and your destiny.

Zodiac Animal Time Animal Nature
Rat 23:00 to 1:00 Rats are active during this time.
Ox 1:00 to 3:00 Oxen are used to grazing at night.
Tiger 3:00 to 5:00 Tigers hunt prey.
Rabbit 5:00 to 7:00 Rabbits like to eat grass with the morning dew, as light emerges.
Dragon 7:00 to 9:00 It's often foggy at this time, dragons would ride the clouds and mount the mists.
Snake 9:00 to 11:00 Snakes go out for food.
Horse 11:00 to 13:00 Wild horses like to run and neigh at noon.
Goat 13:00 to 15:00 This is the best time for goats to eat grass.
Monkey 15:00 to 17:00 As sunset approaches, monkeys moan.
Rooster 17:00 to 19:00 Roosters go back to their henhouses.
Dog 19:00 to 21:00 Dogs are responsible for guarding households at night.
Pig 21:00 to 23:00 Lazy pigs do nothing but eat and sleep, day and night.

Interesting Facts for Chinese Zodiac

  • Chinese zodiac signs consists of 12 animals.
  • Chinese zodiac 2024: the Year of the Dragon
  • Chinese zodiac year is based on Chinese lunar calendar.
  • Tiger and Dragon are the most powerful zodiac signs.

Read more on 17 interesting facts for Chinese zodiac.

Chinese Zodiac Significance

The history of the Chinese zodiac dates back to the Qin Dynasty (221-207 B.C), and it is officially recorded during the Han Dynasty (25-220 A.D).

The Chinese zodiac originated from the worship of animals. Many scholars think the zodiac signs came from the “totems” of ancient tribes. Each tribe had its unique animal symbol as its protecting deity.

Chinese zodiac culture is generally related to superstition. It combines traditional Chinese customs, philosophy, astrology, and numerology. The meaning of the zodiac symbolizes people’s good wishes. In ancient times, the Chinese zodiac was used to count years and hours and guide people’s lives.

Now, many people still believe in the zodiac and its prediction.

Chinese Zodiac FAQs

Q1: How do I know my Chinese zodiac animal?

A1: Input your birthday in the Chinese Zodiac calculator at the beginning of this article.

Q2: What are the 12 Chinese Zodiac in order?

A2: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Gog, and Pig.

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