How is the Chinese zodiac determined?
The Chinese zodiac follows a repeating 12-year cycle of the 12 zodiac animals, in this order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig. Whichever animal's year you were born in determines your zodiac sign.
Year-by-year zodiac reference table (1984-2031)
| Year | Zodiac Animal |
|---|
A Note
Traditionally, the zodiac year changes at Lunar New Year (the first day of the lunar calendar), not January 1st. This calculator uses the solar-calendar year for convenience, so if you were born between early January and early February, before Lunar New Year, your actual zodiac animal may be one year earlier than the result shown here. The personality traits and compatibility described are based on traditional folklore for entertainment purposes and are not scientifically supported.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does it change based on the lunar calendar?
The zodiac is a concept from the traditional lunisolar calendar, which marks Lunar New Year as the start of the new year. Since Lunar New Year falls anywhere from late January to mid-February each year, if you were born in that window you'll need to check the exact lunar new year date to know your true zodiac sign.
How is this different from a Western star sign?
A star sign is a Western astrology concept based on your birth date (month and day), while the Chinese zodiac animal is an East Asian calendar concept based on your birth year. If you're curious about your star sign, check out the Zodiac Personality Types page.