Chinese zodiac

Chinese Year Animals — All 12 Zodiac Signs

Ancient wisdom · Timeless symbols · Endless creativity

The twelve Chinese year animals each rule one lunar year of the zodiac, with their own traits and lucky years. Browse every sign, find your year, and turn any of them into a brand-new creature.

This lunar yearYear of the Horse · 2026Create your own creature →
The twelve Chinese year animals gathered together — Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig

All twelve, in order

Meet all 12 Chinese year animals

  • Illustration of the Rat, one of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiacRatQuick-witted, Resourceful, Versatile.First in the cycle, the Rat is prized for quick thinking and thrift — an adaptable planner who spots an opportunity long before anyone else does.Rat years: 2008 · 2020 · 2032 · 2044
  • Illustration of the Dragon, one of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiacDragonConfident, Ambitious, Energetic.The only mythical sign and the most auspicious, the Dragon stands for power, ambition and good fortune — confident and impossible to overlook.Dragon years: 2012 · 2024 · 2036 · 2048

Find your sign by birth year

Chinese zodiac years chart

  • Rat
    1924193619481960197219841996200820202032
  • Ox
    1925193719491961197319851997200920212033
  • Tiger
    1926193819501962197419861998201020222034
  • Rabbit
    1927193919511963197519871999201120232035
  • Dragon
    1928194019521964197619882000201220242036
  • Snake
    1929194119531965197719892001201320252037
  • Horse
    1930194219541966197819902002201420262038
  • Goat
    1931194319551967197919912003201520272039
  • Monkey
    1932194419561968198019922004201620282040
  • Rooster
    1933194519571969198119932005201720292041
  • Dog
    1934194619581970198219942006201820302042
  • Pig
    1935194719591971198319952007201920312043

Dates follow the Chinese lunar calendar — each animal year typically begins in late January or early February, so births in the first weeks of the year belong to the previous sign.

Not sure which side of lunar new year you were born on? The Chinese zodiac calculator works it out from your exact birth date instead of a birth-year lookup.

The story behind the signs

What are the Chinese year animals?

The Chinese year animals are the twelve creatures of the Chinese zodiac, each ruling one lunar year in a cycle that repeats every twelve years. Unlike Western star signs — which follow your birth month — your sign is set by the lunar year you were born in.

They always run in the same order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig — each with its own traits, lucky match and symbolism.

How the cycle works

12
animals
5
elements
60
year cycle

Each animal pairs with one of five elements — Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water — advancing in two-year steps, so a full element-and-animal pairing returns only once in a lifetime.

The five elements

Every Chinese year animal is also coloured by one of five elements — Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. The element shifts every two years, so the same animal feels a little different each time it comes around: a Wood Tiger and a Fire Tiger share a sign but not the same energy. 2026 is a Fire Horse year.

  • Wood

    Expansive and idealistic — Wood years lean cooperative, generous and always growing toward something new.

  • Fire

    Dynamic and passionate — Fire years are drawn to action, warmth and the spotlight.

  • Earth

    Grounded and patient — Earth years are the steady, dependable centre that holds things together.

  • Metal

    Focused and strong-willed — Metal years value structure, discipline and self-reliance.

  • Water

    Gentle and adaptable — Water years flow around obstacles with empathy rather than forcing through.

The Great Race

Legend says the Jade Emperor held a race to fix the calendar’s order. The clever Rat hitched a ride on the hard-working Ox and leapt ahead at the line; the Pig — who stopped to eat and nap — came in last. That finishing order is the sequence the zodiac still follows today.

  1. 1
    Rat
  2. 2
    Ox
  3. 3
    Tiger
  4. 4
    Rabbit
  5. 5
    Dragon
  6. 6
    Snake
  7. 7
    Horse
  8. 8
    Goat
  9. 9
    Monkey
  10. 10
    Rooster
  11. 11
    Dog
  12. 12
    Pig

Make it yours

Create your own zodiac creature

Mix the spirit of any Chinese year animal with other creatures and elements to bring your imagination to life with AI. Start from this year’s sign, or blend parts from all twelve.

Open Hybrid Generator →Mix a Horse →
A friendly hybrid creature mixing a Chinese zodiac dragon with rabbit ears and wings

Good to know

Chinese year animals FAQ

How do I find my Chinese year animal?

Each lunar year maps to one of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals on a repeating 12-year cycle — 1990, 2002, 2014 and 2026 are all Horse years, for example. Find your birth year in the years chart above to read off your sign.

Curious how two specific signs get along beyond the secret-friend pairs above? Check any two signs’ compatibility → for the full trine, friend and clash breakdown between any pair.

Want more animal fun? Spin the random animal wheel, browse the full animal encyclopedia, or play Critterdle, the daily animal Wordle.

阅读中文版: 中国生肖大全,查看十二生肖顺序、出生年份与五行。