Wondering what your Chinese zodiac sign is? The answer is simpler than you think — every birth year belongs to one of twelve zodiac animals, and the cycle repeats every twelve years. Here is the complete table of Chinese zodiac signs by birth year, what each animal means, and — just as importantly — what your sign can and cannot tell you about your destiny.
How to find your Chinese zodiac sign
Your Chinese zodiac animal is determined by the lunar year of your birth, not the calendar year you are used to. The Chinese New Year moves between late January and mid-February, so if you were born in January or early February, double-check the exact dates below — you may belong to the previous year’s sign.
| Chinese New Year | Zodiac year begins |
|---|---|
| 2024 | February 10 — Year of the Wood Dragon |
| 2025 | January 29 — Year of the Wood Snake |
| 2026 | February 17 — Year of the Fire Horse |
| 2027 | February 6 — Year of the Fire Goat |
The complete Chinese zodiac table
| Zodiac sign | Birth years | Classic traits |
|---|---|---|
| Rat 鼠 | 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 | Quick-witted, resourceful, socially sharp |
| Ox 牛 | 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021 | Diligent, reliable, quietly determined |
| Tiger 虎 | 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022 | Brave, confident, fiercely independent |
| Rabbit 兔 | 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023 | Gentle, diplomatic, artistically gifted |
| Dragon 龙 | 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024 | Charismatic, ambitious, naturally lucky |
| Snake 蛇 | 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025 | Wise, elegant, deeply intuitive |
| Horse 马 | 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026 | Energetic, free-spirited, refreshingly direct |
| Goat 羊 | 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027 | Creative, gentle, warmly empathetic |
| Monkey 猴 | 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028 | Clever, playful, endlessly versatile |
| Rooster 鸡 | 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029 | Observant, hardworking, precise |
| Dog 狗 | 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030 | Loyal, honest, protective of loved ones |
| Pig 猪 | 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031 | Generous, sincere, easygoing |
What your sign reveals
Each animal carries a recognizable archetype that has been refined over thousands of years. Your sign hints at your instinctive temperament — the Rat’s alertness, the Ox’s endurance, the Dragon’s presence, the Goat’s kindness. Millions of people find their sign’s description surprisingly accurate, which is exactly why zodiac talk is such an easy icebreaker.
But there is an important layer most horoscopes leave out: the element of the year. The zodiac animal only describes the Earthly Branch of the year; the Heavenly Stem adds an element that changes every two years. That is why 2025 was a Wood Snake year, 2026 is a Fire Horse year, and 2027 will be a Fire Goat year — same animal, different energy. The full element picture of your birth requires the complete chart.
Why your sign is only part of the story
Here is the honest truth about zodiac signs: your animal is one character out of eight in your BaZi chart. The other seven characters — your month, day, and hour pillars, each with their own stem and branch — are equally important. Two people born in the same animal year can have nearly opposite temperaments and life patterns, because their other six characters differ completely.
If you have just found your sign here, the natural next step is to look a little deeper:
- New to all of this? Start with our beginner’s guide to BaZi — the system behind the signs.
- Ready to see the five elements in action? Read how to read a BaZi chart.
- Curious about the year ahead for your sign? See the 2026 Fire Horse forecast and the 2027 Fire Goat preview.
To see your complete chart interpreted — the elements, the life phases, the career and relationship patterns — the personal BaZi Destiny Report walks through all eight characters of your birth moment, delivered as a beautifully designed PDF within 48 hours.