Chinese Zodiac Animals by Year: Discover Your Sign and Personality
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Chinese New Year marks a fresh beginning and the turning of the year. It also signals the change of one’s Chinese zodiac sign (生肖), a traditional twelve year cycle in which each year is represented by an animal, reflecting personality, cultural identity, and a rich blend of folklore within Chinese culture.
The Zodiac Race Legend
The zodiac began with a famous folktale about a great race ordered by the Jade Emperor to decide the sequence of the years. The clever Rat(兔) won by riding the Ox(牛) and jumping ahead at the last moment, followed by the Ox, Tiger(虎), Rabbit(兔), Dragon(龍), Snake(蛇).
The Horse(馬) then arrived, followed by the gentle Goat(羊), the playful Monkey(猴), and the proud Rooster(雞), who cooperated to cross together. The loyal Dog(狗) came next after lingering in the water, and finally the cheerful Pig(豬) finished last after pausing for food and rest. This order became the repeating 12 year zodiac cycle that continues to shape culture today.
Fun Fact: Why Is the Cat Not in the Chinese Zodiac?
According to popular folklore, the Cat and the Rat were once close friends and planned to join the great zodiac race together. The Rat, however, did not wake the Cat on the morning of the race, causing the Cat to miss the event entirely, and this is why the Cat was never included among the twelve zodiac animals. In many versions of the story, this moment also explains why cats and rats are natural enemies in Chinese folklore.
How Zodiac Animals Reflect Personality
In Chinese tradition, many people believe their zodiac animal influences personality and behaviour. The Rat represents intelligence and adaptability, while the Ox symbolises diligence and reliability. The Tiger embodies courage and leadership, and the Rabbit reflects gentleness and kindness. The Dragon, the only mythical creature, represents power, ambition, and good fortune. The Snake suggests wisdom and intuition, often linked with deep thinking and subtle charm.
The Horse stands for energy and determination, admired for its lively spirit. The Goat represents creativity, compassion, and harmony. The Monkey symbolises cleverness and curiosity, often associated with humour and innovation. The Rooster reflects confidence and responsibility, while the Dog represents loyalty and justice. The Pig stands for generosity, optimism, and abundance, completing the twelve animal circle.
Animals | Symbolism |
Rat 🐀 | Intelligence and adaptability |
Ox 🐂 | Diligence and reliability |
Tiger 🐅 | Courage and leadership |
Rabbit 🐰 | Gentleness and kindness |
Dragon 🐉 | Power, ambition, and good fortune |
Snake 🐍 | Wisdom and intuition |
Horse 🐴 | Energy and determination |
Goat 🐐 | Creativity, compassion, and harmony |
Monkey 🐵 | Cleverness and curiosity |
Rooster 🐓 | Confidence and responsibility |
Dog 🐶 | Loyalty and justice |
Pig 🐷 | Generosity, optimism, and abundance |
Your Personal Zodiac Animal
The zodiac follows a repeating twelve-year cycle, with each year linked to one animal in order. Find your personal zodiac animal below:
Horse (1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026)
Goat (1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015)
Monkey (1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016)
Rooster (1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017)
Dog (1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018)
Pig (1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019)
Rat (1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020)
Ox (1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021)
Tiger (1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022)
Rabbit (1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023)
Dragon (1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024)
Snake (1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025)
Outlook for next five years (2026-2030)
In Chinese zodiac tradition, each year carries symbolic energy that reflects cultural beliefs about change and direction.
2026, the Year of the Horse, is linked with movement, ambition, and bold action, encouraging people to pursue goals and embrace new opportunities.
2027, the Year of the Goat, is seen as a gentler period focused on harmony, relationships, and creativity, inviting reflection and emotional balance. 2028, the Year of the Monkey, symbolises innovation and adaptability, often associated with problem solving, learning, and new ideas.
2029, the Year of the Rooster, represents discipline and clarity, encouraging organisation, responsibility, and steady progress toward long term plans. 2030, the Year of the Dog, is connected with loyalty, justice, and protection, a time culturally believed to favour trust, stability, and strengthening communities and relationships.
Learn a Little Chinese
Before yo go, let us learn a few simple Chinese words connected to the zodiac.
Chinese zodiac (birth symbol) 生肖 (shēngxiào) | Year 年 (nián) |
Animal 动物 (dòngwù) | Which zodiac animal do you belong to?” 你属什么？ (nǐ shǔ shénme?) |
The zodiac is more than a list of animals. It is a living story of culture, time, and identity. Understanding the Chinese zodiac is more than memorising animals. It is a journey into storytelling, symbolism, and language, and at LingoClass we invite every learner to explore that journey through words, culture, and connection.
