01
Rat 鼠
shǔ
Resourcefulness & curiosity
TWELVE ANIMALS · COUNTLESS STORIES
Discover your place
in the Chinese zodiac.
A rat, a dragon, a horse. Each animal is part of a repeating twelve-year cycle, connecting birthdays with stories, celebrations, and Chinese tradition.
生肖 · shēngxiào · Chinese zodiac
Meet the twelve animalsWhich animal are you?
Enter your Gregorian birth date. We use Lunar New Year to find your zodiac year, including birthdays in January and February.
Birth dates from February 19, 1901 are supported. Your date stays in your browser.
MEET THE CYCLE
Twelve animals, in order.
The cycle begins with the Rat and ends with the Pig, then starts again. Learn each name in Chinese and notice the qualities often associated with it in popular tradition.
02
Ox 牛
niú
Patience & perseverance
03
Tiger 虎
hǔ
Courage & confidence
04
Rabbit 兔
tù
Gentleness & kindness
05
Dragon 龙
lóng
Energy & ambition
06
Snake 蛇
shé
Wisdom & reflection
07
Horse 马
mǎ
Freedom & enthusiasm
08
Goat 羊
yáng
Creativity & care
09
Monkey 猴
hóu
Cleverness & playfulness
10
Rooster 鸡
jī
Diligence & observation
11
Dog 狗
gǒu
Loyalty & sincerity
12
Pig 猪
zhū
Generosity & warmth
羊 (yáng) is also translated as Sheep or Ram. These symbolic qualities are cultural associations, not a scientific description of personality.
BEHIND THE ANIMALS
A calendar with a story to tell.
The Great Race
One popular folktale tells of a race arranged by the Jade Emperor. The clever Rat rode on the Ox and jumped ahead at the finish. The animals’ finishing order explains their place in the cycle. Versions of the story vary.
A new year, a new animal
The traditional Chinese calendar combines lunar months with the solar year. In this calculator, the animal changes on Lunar New Year, not January 1. Some astrology traditions instead use Lìchūn, the solar term called Start of Spring.
Your zodiac year
Your animal returns every twelve years. This is called 本命年 (běnmìngnián). Some people wear red clothing or accessories during this year as a traditional wish for good luck. Customs differ between families and regions.
Born near Lunar New Year?
For example, Lunar New Year in 2024 was February 10. A birthday on February 9 belongs to the Rabbit year; February 10 begins the Dragon year. That is why your full birth date matters.
Explore the sources: Hong Kong Observatory’s animal cycle, Gregorian–lunar conversion tables, and the Great Race story.