The Chinese Zodiac
Twelve animals, a twelve-year cycle, and a tradition older than most of recorded astrology. Find your animal by birth year, read its personality, and explore the compatibility of every pairing.
2026 is the Year of the Horse.
Find Your Chinese Zodiac Animal
Born in January or early February? The zodiac year turns on Lunar New Year, not January 1st — if your birthday falls before that year's Lunar New Year, you're actually the previous animal.
The 12 Animal Signs
Rat
Water · Yang
2020, 2032
Ox
Earth · Yin
2021, 2033
Tiger
Wood · Yang
2022, 2034
Rabbit
Wood · Yin
2023, 2035
Dragon
Earth · Yang
2024, 2036
Snake
Fire · Yin
2025, 2037
Horse
Fire · Yang
2026, 2038
Goat
Earth · Yin
2027, 2039
Monkey
Metal · Yang
2028, 2040
Rooster
Metal · Yin
2029, 2041
Dog
Earth · Yang
2030, 2042
Pig
Water · Yin
2031, 2043
How to Find Your Chinese Zodiac Animal
The Chinese zodiac runs on the lunar calendar, so each animal year begins on Chinese New Year (between late January and mid-February) rather than January 1st. If you were born in January or early February, double-check the exact Lunar New Year date for your birth year before assuming a sign.
Enter your birth year in the calculator above, or scan the 12-animal directory below and click through for the full personality, love, and compatibility reading.
The Three Harmonies (Best Matches)
Classical Chinese astrology groups the 12 animals into four trines — sets of three animals four years apart whose energies amplify each other. These are the strongest classical compatibility groupings.
First Trine
rat, dragon, monkey
Second Trine
ox, snake, rooster
Third Trine
tiger, horse, dog
Fourth Trine
rabbit, goat, pig
Common Questions
Why isn't the cat in the Chinese zodiac?
The most common folk explanation is that the Rat tricked the Cat during the Jade Emperor's race to decide the animal order — either by lying about the race's start time or by pushing the Cat off the ox's back mid-crossing, so the Cat never arrived and was left out for good. This is why the Rat and Cat are traditionally depicted as rivals in Chinese folklore. Vietnam's zodiac is a notable exception: it swaps the Rabbit for the Cat, so the animal does appear in that regional variant.
What year is 2026 in the Chinese zodiac?
2026 is the Year of the Horse, running from Chinese New Year 2026 through the day before Chinese New Year 2027. Horse years are traditionally associated with energy, independence, and forward momentum.
How do I find my Chinese zodiac animal from my birth year?
Use the calculator above, or work it out yourself: subtract 4 from your birth year, divide by 12, and the remainder maps to an animal starting from Rat at remainder 0. The one exception is anyone born in January or early February — the zodiac year turns on Lunar New Year, not January 1st, so check the exact date for your birth year before assuming a sign.
Does the Chinese zodiac use my exact birthday or just my birth year?
Mostly your birth year, with one caveat: if you were born between January 1st and Lunar New Year (which falls between January 21st and February 20th depending on the year), you were actually born in the previous zodiac year, not the calendar year on your birth certificate.