Discover your animal sign, explore ancient wisdom, and check compatibility — all in one place.
Find Your Zodiac Sign
Enter your birth year to discover your Chinese zodiac animal and its meaning.
If you were born in January or February, your zodiac may follow the Lunar New Year — check the table below.
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How to Use This Calculator
Four simple steps to uncover your Chinese zodiac profile.
1
Enter Your Birth Year
Type your birth year in the input box above, or tap a quick-select year chip. The calculator supports years from 1924 to 2043.
2
View Your Zodiac Result
Instantly see your animal sign, Chinese name with pinyin, Five Elements association, personality traits, and lucky symbols.
3
Explore All 12 Animals
Click any animal in the zodiac grid below to learn about its character, compatible signs, and cultural background.
4
Check Compatibility
Scroll to the compatibility checker, pick two zodiac signs, and discover their relationship match score based on ancient Chinese wisdom.
All 12 Chinese Zodiac Animals
Click any card to view detailed traits, lucky symbols, and compatibility.
Zodiac Compatibility Checker
Select two zodiac signs to see how well they match according to Chinese tradition.
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The 12 Chinese Zodiac Animals & Their Years
The Chinese zodiac (Shēng Xiào, 生肖) is a repeating 12-year cycle, with each year represented by an animal and its reputed attributes. The system originated in ancient China and remains widely used across East and Southeast Asia for personality analysis, matchmaking, and fortune-telling. Unlike the Western zodiac based on months, the Chinese zodiac assigns one animal to an entire lunar year.
Order
Animal
Chinese
Pinyin
Recent Years
Element (2020s)
What Your Zodiac Animal Says About You
Each animal carries distinct personality traits that are believed to influence people born in its year. Below is a quick overview of each sign's core character, lucky symbols, and best matches.
Chinese Zodiac Compatibility Guide
Compatibility in the Chinese zodiac is determined by the relationship between the 12 Earthly Branches (Dì Zhī, 地支). The system recognizes three main types of relationships:
Six Harmonies (Liù Hé, 六合) — The strongest match. Pairs that are six positions apart on the zodiac wheel create perfect harmony and balance each other's strengths and weaknesses.
Three Harmonies (Sān Hé, 三合) — Great matches. Three signs spaced four positions apart form a powerful triad, sharing similar values and life goals.
Six Clashes (Liù Chōng, 六冲) — The most challenging match. Opposite signs on the zodiac wheel may struggle with fundamental personality conflicts.
Five Elements (Wu Xing) in the Chinese Zodiac
Beyond the 12 animal signs, the Chinese zodiac incorporates the Five Elements — Wood (Mù, 木), Fire (Huǒ, 火), Earth (Tǔ, 土), Metal (Jīn, 金), and Water (Shuǐ, 水). Each element cycles through the zodiac every 60 years (12 animals × 5 elements), creating a more nuanced personality profile. For example, a 2026 Horse is a Fire Horse, while a 2014 Horse was a Wood Horse — same animal, different elemental influence.
The current 60-year cycle covers 1984 through 2043, beginning with the Wood Rat and ending with the Water Pig.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the Chinese zodiac.
How do I find my Chinese zodiac sign?
Finding your Chinese zodiac sign is simple: enter your birth year into the calculator at the top of this page. The formula is (year - 4) mod 12, which maps to the 12 animals in order starting from the Rat. For those born in January or February, verify whether your birth date falls before or after the Lunar New Year (Spring Festival), which typically occurs between January 21 and February 20. If you were born before that year's Lunar New Year, your zodiac sign is from the previous year.
What is the difference between the Chinese zodiac and Western zodiac?
The Chinese zodiac is based on a 12-year lunar cycle, with each year assigned a different animal sign. In contrast, the Western zodiac is based on 12 monthly constellations tied to the solar calendar. The Chinese system also incorporates the Five Elements (Wu Xing) and yin-yang polarity, creating a 60-year full cycle rather than a 12-month one. Both systems are used for personality analysis, but the Chinese zodiac places greater emphasis on birth year compatibility between people.
How accurate is Chinese zodiac compatibility?
Chinese zodiac compatibility is rooted in centuries of cultural tradition and folk wisdom rather than empirical science. The matching system is based on the observed relationships between the 12 Earthly Branches — harmonious triads (Sān Hé), secret friend pairs (Liù Hé), and clashing opposites (Liù Chōng). While millions of people across Asia consult zodiac compatibility for relationships and marriage, it should be enjoyed as cultural insight rather than a definitive guide.
Can two people share the same zodiac animal but have different personalities?
Yes. The Five Elements (Wu Xing) system adds a critical second dimension. Each animal year is also associated with one of five elements — Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, or Water — which cycles every 60 years. For instance, a 2020 Metal Rat and a 2032 Water Rat share the Rat sign but carry different elemental energies, resulting in distinct personality nuances. Additionally, the month, day, and hour of birth (the Four Pillars of Destiny or Bazi) further refine an individual's full astrological profile.
What year is 2026 in the Chinese zodiac?
2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse (Bǐng Wǔ, 丙午). The Horse is the seventh animal in the 12-year cycle. People born in 2026 (starting from the Lunar New Year, which falls on January 29, 2026) will be Horses with the Fire element. The Horse sign is associated with energy, independence, and a warm-hearted nature. The Fire element amplifies these traits with extra passion and enthusiasm.