Chinese Zodiac Calculator
Discover your Chinese zodiac sign and unlock the secrets of your personality, compatibility, and fortune. Explore the ancient wisdom of the 12-year cycle.
Enter any year from 1900 to 2100
Chinese zodiac (生肖): what it is and how this calculator works
The Chinese zodiac—sheng xiao—is a twelve-year cycle of animal signs. Below is a clear layout of how we map your birth year, how that differs from some traditional tables, and where to explore compatibility and culture in the tabs above.
Many people search for Chinese zodiac by birth year, what is my Chinese zodiac, or Chinese astrology animal. The calculator answers instantly; this guide adds context for content creators, Lunar New Year planning, or comparing with Western signs.
For each year you enter, we compute the position in that cycle and return the matching animal, element tag, and descriptive profile. This keeps results fast and consistent for any year field.
In traditional practice, births in January or early February may belong to the previous animal, because Chinese New Year falls between late January and mid-February. If you were born near Lunar New Year, check the exact holiday date for your birth year for a traditional assignment.
This tool intentionally uses simple Gregorian-year mapping so everyone gets one clear, reproducible answer.
- #1Rat鼠
- #2Ox牛
- #3Tiger虎
- #4Rabbit兔
- #5Dragon龙
- #6Snake蛇
- #7Horse马
- #8Goat羊
- #9Monkey猴
- #10Rooster鸡
- #11Dog狗
- #12Pig猪
Goat (羊) is sometimes translated as Sheep; both refer to the same zodiac branch.
Beyond the twelve animals, classical astrology uses Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. Animals repeat every twelve years, but the full stem–branch and element mix repeats every sixty years (the sexagenary cycle, ganzhi).
Each profile on this site shows a representative element for quick reading. Deep BaZi analysis uses exact date and time and is outside this lightweight tool.
Popular culture uses zodiac pairs for love, friendship, and work chemistry. Use the Compatibility tab above for best / good / challenging pairs.
More lifestyle tools are linked in the footer and in the related tools strip above.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers—details live in the interactive tabs.
Enter the calendar year you were born (1900–2100) in the calculator above. We return your animal, Chinese character, element tag, personality summary, and compatibility highlights.
No. Western signs depend on the month and day of birth relative to the tropical zodiac; the Chinese twelve animals follow a repeating twelve-year cycle tied to lunar-calendar tradition. Many people enjoy learning both.
Differences usually come from Lunar New Year boundaries or from using a different reference year in the cycle. We document our Gregorian-year method in this guide so expectations stay clear.
They are traditional folk associations bundled with each animal profile—fun cultural detail, not a guarantee of outcomes.
Open the All Animals and Culture & History tabs in the tool for expanded profiles, the Great Race legend, and element meanings.
Content is for cultural interest; not medical, legal, or financial advice.