What is My Chinese Birth Year? – In this article, you will get to know all about Birth Year in Chinese. The Chinese zodiac, (Sheng Xiao – 生肖) is a repeating 12 year cycle of Chinese animal signs and their ascribed attributes and nature based on the lunar calendar. In order, the Chinese zodiac animals are, Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.
The Chinese New Year begins each year on the occasion of the second new moon after the winter solstice. The Chinese people use a lunar calendar as opposed to our own Gregorian calendar.
According to the Chinese zodiac and astrology, the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, marks the transition from one animal to the next, which begins in around mid of February, and ends in January next year.
Birth Year in Chinese – What is My Chinese Birth year?
According to Chinese astrology, your birth year determines your Chinese zodiac sign, however, it can get tricky, as the lunar calendar varies from the solar, and or Gregorian, calendar as well.
As the dates of Chinese New Year change every year, People who are born in January or February will need to pay special attention to their birth date in addition to their birth year as well.
The 12 Chinese Zodiac Animals
If you already know your Chinese zodiac sign, or you are really curious to explore them all, select one from below to discover the personality traits, characteristics, romantic compatibility and more.
Chinese Zodiac Years
As we mentioned above, the Chinese zodiac cycle repeats every 12 years, it’s really easy to figure out if it’s your birth year in the Chinese Zodiac. Just check if your age is a multiple of 12 and below we have listed the 12 zodiac animals in order with accompanying years:
|
ZODIAC SIGN |
CHINESE NAME |
ZODIAC YEARS |
|
Rat |
鼠 (shǔ) |
1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 |
|
Ox |
牛 (niú) |
1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021 |
|
Tiger |
虎 (hǔ) |
1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022 |
|
Rabbit |
兔 (tù) |
1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023 |
|
Dragon |
龙 (lóng) |
1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024 |
|
Snake |
蛇 (shé) |
1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025 |
|
Horse |
马 (mǎ) |
1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026 |
|
Sheep |
羊 (yang) |
1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027 |
|
Monkey |
猴 (hóu) |
1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028 |
|
Rooster |
鸡 (jī) |
1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029 |
|
Dog |
狗 (gǒu) |
1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030 |
|
Pig |
猪 (zhū) |
1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031 |
Related: 2023 Chinese Animal
Zodiac Birth Year – Ben Ming Nian
You maybe think your zodiac year or Chinese birth year (本命年 / ben ming nian) will be lucky. It’s your year after all. However, it’s the total opposite in the Chinese astrology.
It’s seen as a hurdle and troubles you have to jump over. The way to protect yourself from evil spirits, bad times, struggles and bad fortune is to wear red underwear every day for the entire year. Even in modern times, it means a real concern.
In some places, it is believed married men even have to be accompanied by their wives when they go out at night during their year.
Chinese Birth Year
The Chinese New Year begins every year on the second new moon after the winter solstice. The Chinese people use a lunar calendar as opposed to our own Gregorian calendar.
|
Chinese Year |
Year range (Gregorian calendar) |
Chinese zodiac |
Element |
|
2025 |
Feb 10, 2024 – Jan 28, 2025 |
Snake (Si) |
Wood |
|
2024 |
Feb 10, 2024 – Jan 28, 2025 |
Dragon (Chen) |
Wood |
|
2023 |
Jan 22, 2023 – Feb 9, 2024 |
Rabbit (Mao) |
Water |
|
2022 |
Feb 1, 2022 – Jan 21, 2023 |
Tiger (Yin) |
Water |
|
2021 |
Feb 12, 2021 – Jan 31, 2022 |
Ox (Chou) |
Metal |
|
2020 |
Jan 25, 2020 – Feb 11, 2021 |
Rat (Zi) |
Metal |
|
2019 |
Feb 5, 2019 – Jan 24, 2020 |
Boar/Pig (Hai) |
Earth |
|
2018 |
Feb 16, 2018 – Feb 4, 2019 |
Dog (Xu) |
Earth |
|
2017 |
Jan 28, 2017 – Feb 15, 2018 |
Rooster (You) |
Fire |
|
2016 |
Feb 8, 2016 – Jan 27, 2017 |
Monkey (Shen) |
Fire |
|
2015 |
Feb 19, 2015 – Feb 7, 2016 |
Sheep (Wei) |
Wood |
|
2014 |
Jan 31, 2014 – Feb 18, 2015 |
Horse (Wu) |
Wood |
|
2013 |
Feb 10, 2013 – Jan 30, 2014 |
Snake (Si) |
Water |
|
2012 |
Jan 23, 2012 – Feb 9, 2013 |
Dragon (Chen) |
Water |
|
2011 |
Feb 3, 2011 – Jan 22, 2012 |
Rabbit (Mao) |
Metal |
|
2010 |
Feb 14, 2010 – Feb 2, 2011 |
Tiger (Yin) |
Metal |
|
2009 |
Jan 26, 2009 – Feb 13, 2010 |
Ox (Chou) |
Earth |
|
2008 |
Feb 7, 2008 – Jan 25, 2009 |
Rat (Zi) |
Earth |
|
2007 |
Feb 18, 2007 – Feb 6, 2008 |
Boar/Pig (Hai) |
Fire |
|
2006 |
Jan 29, 2006 – Feb 17, 2007 |
Dog (Xu) |
Fire |
|
2005 |
Feb 9, 2005 – Jan 28, 2006 |
Rooster (You) |
Wood |
|
2004 |
Jan 22, 2004 – Feb 8, 2005 |
Monkey (Shen) |
Wood |
|
2003 |
Feb 1, 2003 – Jan 21, 2004 |
Sheep (Wei) |
Water |
|
2002 |
Feb 12, 2002 – Jan 31, 2003 |
Horse (Wu) |
Water |
|
2001 |
Jan 24, 2001 – Feb 11, 2002 |
Snake (Si) |
Metal |
|
2000 |
Feb 5, 2000 – Jan 23, 2001 |
Dragon (Chen) |
Metal |
|
1999 |
Feb 16, 1999 – Feb 4, 2000 |
Rabbit (Mao) |
Earth |
|
1998 |
Jan 28, 1998 – Feb 15, 1999 |
Tiger (Yin) |
Earth |
|
1997 |
Feb 7, 1997 – Jan 27, 1998 |
Ox (Chou) |
Fire |
|
1996 |
Feb 19, 1996 – Feb 6, 1997 |
Rat (Zi) |
Fire |
|
1995 |
Jan 31, 1995 – Feb 18, 1996 |
Boar/Pig (Hai) |
Wood |
|
1994 |
Feb 10, 1994 – Jan 30, 1995 |
Dog (Xu) |
Wood |
|
1993 |
Jan 23, 1993 – Feb 9, 1994 |
Rooster (You) |
Water |
|
1992 |
Feb 4, 1992 – Jan 22, 1993 |
Monkey (Shen) |
Water |
|
1991 |
Feb 15, 1991 – Feb 3, 1992 |
Sheep (Wei) |
Metal |
|
1990 |
Jan 27, 1990 – Feb 14, 1991 |
Horse (Wu) |
Metal |
|
1989 |
Feb 6, 1989 – Jan 26, 1990 |
Snake (Si) |
Earth |
|
1988 |
Feb 17, 1988 – Feb 5, 1989 |
Dragon (Chen) |
Earth |
|
1987 |
Jan 29, 1987 – Feb 16, 1988 |
Rabbit (Mao) |
Fire |
|
1986 |
Feb 9, 1986 – Jan 28, 1987 |
Tiger (Yin) |
Fire |
|
1985 |
Feb 20, 1985 – Feb 8, 1986 |
Ox (Chou) |
Wood |
|
1984 |
Feb 2, 1984 – Feb 19, 1985 |
Rat (Zi) |
Wood |
|
1983 |
Feb 13, 1983 – Feb 1, 1984 |
Boar/Pig (Hai) |
Water |
|
1982 |
Jan 25, 1982 – Feb 12, 1983 |
Dog (Xu) |
Water |
|
1981 |
Feb 5, 1981 – Jan 24, 1982 |
Rooster (You) |
Metal |
|
1980 |
Feb 16, 1980 – Feb 4, 1981 |
Monkey (Shen) |
Metal |
|
1979 |
Jan 28, 1979 – Feb 15, 1980 |
Sheep (Wei) |
Earth |
|
1978 |
Feb 7, 1978 – Jan 27, 1979 |
Horse (Wu) |
Earth |
|
1977 |
Feb 18, 1977 – Feb 6, 1978 |
Snake (Si) |
Fire |
|
1976 |
Jan 31, 1976 – Feb 17, 1977 |
Dragon (Chen) |
Fire |
|
1975 |
Feb 11, 1975 – Jan 30, 1976 |
Rabbit (Mao) |
Wood |
|
1974 |
Jan 23, 1974 – Feb 10, 1975 |
Tiger (Yin) |
Wood |
|
1973 |
Feb 3, 1973 – Jan 22, 1974 |
Ox (Chou) |
Water |
|
1972 |
Feb 15, 1972 – Feb 2, 1973 |
Rat (Zi) |
Water |
|
1971 |
Jan 27, 1971 – Feb 14, 1972 |
Boar/Pig (Hai) |
Metal |
|
1970 |
Feb 6, 1970 – Jan 26, 1971 |
Dog (Xu) |
Metal |
|
1969 |
Feb 17, 1969 – Feb 5, 1970 |
Rooster (You) |
Earth |
|
1968 |
Jan 30, 1968 – Feb 16, 1969 |
Monkey (Shen) |
Earth |
|
1967 |
Feb 9, 1967 – Jan 29, 1968 |
Sheep (Wei) |
Fire |
|
1966 |
Jan 21, 1966 – Feb 8, 1967 |
Horse (Wu) |
Fire |
|
1965 |
Feb 2, 1965 – Jan 20, 1966 |
Snake (Si) |
Wood |
|
1964 |
Feb 13, 1964 – Feb 1, 1965 |
Dragon (Chen) |
Wood |
|
1963 |
Jan 25, 1963 – Feb 12, 1964 |
Rabbit (Mao) |
Water |
|
1962 |
Feb 5, 1962 – Jan 24, 1963 |
Tiger (Yin) |
Water |
|
1961 |
Feb 15, 1961 – Feb 4, 1962 |
Ox (Chou) |
Metal |
|
1960 |
Jan 28, 1960 – Feb 14, 1961 |
Rat (Zi) |
Metal |
|
1959 |
Feb 8, 1959 – Jan 27, 1960 |
Boar/Pig (Hai) |
Earth |
|
1958 |
Feb 18, 1958 – Feb 8, 1959 |
Dog (Xu) |
Earth |
|
1957 |
Jan 31, 1957 – Feb 17, 1958 |
Rooster (You) |
Fire |
|
1956 |
Feb 12, 1956 – Jan 30, 1957 |
Monkey (Shen) |
Fire |
|
1955 |
Jan 24, 1955 – Feb 11, 1956 |
Sheep (Wei) |
Wood |
|
1954 |
Feb 3, 1954 – Jan 23, 1955 |
Horse (Wu) |
Wood |
|
1953 |
Feb 14, 1953 – Feb 2, 1954 |
Snake (Si) |
Water |
|
1952 |
Jan 27, 1952 – Feb 13, 1953 |
Dragon (Chen) |
Water |
|
1951 |
Feb 6, 1951 – Jan 26, 1952 |
Rabbit (Mao) |
Metal |
|
1950 |
Feb 17, 1950 – Feb 5, 1951 |
Tiger (Yin) |
Metal |
|
1949 |
Jan 29, 1949 – Feb 16, 1950 |
Ox (Chou) |
Earth |
|
1948 |
Feb 10, 1948 – Jan 28, 1949 |
Rat (Zi) |
Earth |
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