Chinese zodiac, or shengxiao (/shnng-sshyao/ 'born resembling'), is represented by 12 zodiac animals. In order, they are the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.
Chinese zodiac years begin/end at Chinese New Year (in January/February). Each year in the repeating zodiac cycle of 12 years is represented by a zodiac animal, each with its own reputed attributes.
2025 is the year of the Snake, starting from January 29th, 2025 and ends on February 16th, 2026.
Chinese people believe that a person's horoscope, personality, and love compatibility are closely associated with his/her Chinese zodiac sign, determined by his/her birth year.
What is My Chinese Zodiac Sign?
Each Chinese zodiac year is represented by an animal. The calendar of Chinese zodiac years below will help you find your zodiac sign fast.
For example, 1991 is a year of the Goat. If you were born in 1991, your Chinese zodiac sign is the Goat, and you are known as a "Goat".
Chinese Zodiac Years
Chinese Zodiac Sign
Years
Rat
...1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020…
Ox
…1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021…
Tiger
…1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022…
Rabbit
… 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023 ...
Dragon
… 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024 …
Snake
… 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025 …
Horse
… 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026 …
Goat
… 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027 …
Monkey
… 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028 …
Rooster
… 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029 …
Dog
… 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030 …
Pig
… 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031 …
You may want to read more about Chinese zodiac years.
For the starting date of a zodiac year, there are two schools of thought in Chinese astrology: Chinese New Year or the Start of Spring.
Chinese New Year, day 1 of the Chinese lunar year, falls somewhere in the period January 21st to February 20th.
The Start of Spring is the 1st of the 24 Solar Terms, beginning on February 3rd or 4th.
Most Chinese people use Chinese New Year as the start of the zodiac year. This is popular Chinese astrology. Only traditionalists and professional astrologers use the first solar term. Therefore, for example if you were born in January or February in 1997, you might be an Ox or a Rat.
Chinese Zodiac Signs' Personality
Chinese zodiac animals have astrological and cultural meanings. Chinese people associate each animal sign with certain characteristics. It's believed that people born in a given year have the personality of that year's animal.
Rat: quick-witted, resourceful, versatile, kind.
Ox: diligent, dependable, strong, determined.
Tiger: brave, confident, competitive, unpredictable.
Rabbit: quiet, elegant, kind, responsible.
Dragon: confident, intelligent, enthusiastic.
Snake: enigmatic, intelligent, wise.
Horse: animated, active, energetic.
Goat: calm, gentle, sympathetic.
Monkey: sharp, smart, curious.
Rooster: observant, hardworking, courageous.
Dog: lovely, honest, prudent.
Pig: compassionate, generous, diligent.
What are the differences between Chinese zodiac and western astrology?
The main similarity between the two systems is that both systems are based on time periods of birth, and they both have 12 symbols or signs with associated personalities and fortunes.
However, there are big differences in their origins and astrological theory.
With the Chinese zodiac, the 12 signs are derived from the ancients' musings about archetypal animals, people's personalities and fortunes, and their relationships with one another and years of birth. A myth about a celestial race was later developed to explain the Chinese zodiac sequence.
This differs from Western astrology, where the 12 zodiac signs are based on constellations' positions relative to the earth. The constellations were named according to Greek mythology and astrological theory was developed based on the stars supposed influence on human personalities and lives.
In addition, the Chinese zodiac is calculated on a year-by-year base while the Western zodiac corresponds with "months".