Chinese zodiac
The 12 Chinese Zodiac Animals
Twelve animals, one per lunar year. Each carries an element, a direction in the day, and a set of traits that Chinese astrology has used for roughly two thousand years. Start with your birth year — or read all twelve.
Pick your animal
Each page covers personality, career, love, compatible signs and your
birth years.
鼠RatShǔ
Quick-witted · Resourceful · Alert
牛OxNiú
Steady · Reliable · Patient
虎TigerHǔ
Bold · Independent · Generous
兔RabbitTù
Gentle · Refined · Perceptive
龙DragonLóng
Ambitious · Confident · Magnetic
蛇SnakeShé
Insightful · Private · Composed
马HorseMǎ
Energetic · Free-spirited · Direct
羊GoatYáng
Creative · Gentle · Empathic
猴MonkeyHóu
Inventive · Witty · Versatile
鸡RoosterJī
Precise · Observant · Confident
狗DogGǒu
Loyal · Honest · Protective
猪PigZhū
Generous · Sincere · Easy-going
The four trines
Beyond single pairs, the zodiac groups signs into four three-way trines
(三合) by element. Signs in the same trine understand each other with almost no
explanation.
Water Trine
The Water trine is the group of intelligence and strategy. These three understand each other without much explanation, because they all solve problems by thinking rather than pushing. Put them together and ideas move fast; the risk is that all three are strategists and nobody does the boring execution.
Fire Trine
The Fire trine runs on momentum and conviction. These three act, and they act together well because each one brings a different kind of courage — the Tiger starts it, the Horse spreads it, the Dog holds the line. Their shared weakness is impatience with anyone slower than them.
Wood Trine
The Wood trine is the group of feeling and craft. These three build atmospheres rather than empires, and they are the easiest company in the zodiac. Together they produce beautiful, gentle environments; together they also avoid hard conversations for far too long.
Not sure which animal you are?
The Chinese zodiac year does not start on 1 January — it starts at Chinese New Year, which falls between 21 January and 21 February. If you were born in January or early February, check the exact date before you decide. The calculator handles this for you.