What is my Chinese zodiac sign? Find your animal and element

Most people think they know their Chinese zodiac sign from their birth year. Most people are right, except those born in January or early February, who often turn out to be a different animal from the one they’ve been told all their lives.

The twelve animals, in order

The Chinese zodiac runs in a twelve-year cycle, always in the same order:

Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig.

To go further back, subtract 12: a 1972 birth is a Rat, like 1984.

The January and February rule

The Chinese zodiac year doesn’t start on 1 January. It starts at Chinese New Year, which falls on a new Moon somewhere between 21 January and 20 February, and the date changes every year.

So if you were born before Chinese New Year in your birth year, you belong to the previous animal. Some examples:

• Born 20 January 1990: Chinese New Year 1990 was on 27 January, so you’re a Snake (1989), not a Horse.
• Born 10 February 1991: New Year was on 15 February, so you’re a Horse (1990), not a Goat.
• Born 1 February 2000: New Year was on 5 February, so you’re a Rabbit (1999), not a Dragon.

This is the most common mistake in Chinese astrology. A calculator that asks for your full date of birth, not just the year, gets it right.

Your element

Each year also has one of five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal or Water. You can find yours from the last digit of your birth year (after applying the January–February rule):

Your animal and element together make your full year sign. 1990 is a Metal Horse; 2026 is a Fire Horse. Because there are five elements and twelve animals, each combination comes round once every 60 years.

Even years are also yang (outgoing, active) and odd years yin (receptive, inward).

Your inner and secret animals

Your year animal is the one most people know, but Chinese astrology also gives you:

• a month animal (sometimes called your inner animal), which describes your inner life and relationships;
• an hour animal (your secret animal), which needs your birth time and describes the side of you that few people see.

Our calculator shows all three when you give it your full birth details.

What your sign is used for

People use their Chinese zodiac sign in much the same way as a Western sun sign: to reflect on their character, to compare with friends and partners, and to think about how each new year might feel for them. In Chinese tradition, the year of your own animal is a year to look after yourself carefully, not necessarily a lucky one.

Astrology here is for reflection and self-understanding. It doesn't predict events, and it isn't medical, legal or financial advice.