What's My Chinese Zodiac Sign?
Discover your animal, element, and polarity with our free Chinese zodiac calculator
The Chinese zodiac is a 12-year cycle in which each year is associated with one of 12 animals and one of 5 elements — giving 60 unique combinations. Unlike Western astrology, which uses the tropical solar calendar, the Chinese zodiac uses the lunisolar calendar and marks each new year at Lichun (立春, "Start of Spring"), around February 4th.
Important: If you were born in January or early February, your Chinese zodiac year may differ from your birth year. Our calculator handles this Lichun boundary automatically.
Chinese Zodiac vs. Western Astrology
While Western astrology assigns a sign based on a roughly 30-day sun period (Aries, Taurus, etc.), the Chinese zodiac assigns an animal and element based on your birth year — adjusted for the lunisolar calendar. The result is a 60-combination cycle of elemental energies that paint a more nuanced portrait of your character and destiny.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find my Chinese zodiac sign?
Enter your birth date into the calculator above and click "Discover My Sign." The calculator uses the lunisolar calendar with the Lichun (Start of Spring, ~February 4th) boundary to determine your exact animal sign, element, and yin/yang polarity.
Is Chinese zodiac based on year or birth date?
It is primarily based on your birth year, but the year boundary in Chinese astrology is Lichun — around February 4th — not January 1st. This means if you were born in January or the first few days of February, your Chinese zodiac year is the previous year. Our calculator handles this automatically.
What are the 12 Chinese zodiac animals?
The 12 animals in order are: Rat (鼠), Ox (牛), Tiger (虎), Rabbit (兔), Dragon (龙), Snake (蛇), Horse (马), Goat (羊), Monkey (猴), Rooster (鸡), Dog (狗), and Pig (猪). Each animal also carries one of 5 elements — Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, or Water — cycling through a 60-year pattern.
What's the difference between Chinese and Western zodiac?
Western astrology divides the year into 12 sun signs based on a roughly 30-day solar period (e.g., Aries, Taurus). Chinese astrology assigns an animal and element based on your birth year, using the lunisolar calendar. The Chinese zodiac has 12 animals × 5 elements = 60 unique combinations, with a new cycle every 60 years.
What is my Chinese zodiac element?
Your zodiac element (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, or Water) comes from the Heavenly Stem of your birth year. Each element repeats twice, so elements cycle every 10 years. Your element modifies the energy of your animal sign — for example, a Water Tiger behaves differently from a Fire Tiger. Enter your birth date above to find yours.
Does the Chinese zodiac use the same calendar as Western?
No. The Chinese zodiac uses the lunisolar calendar, which blends the lunar cycle with the solar year. The new zodiac year begins at Lichun (立春, Start of Spring), which falls around February 4th each year — not at the Lunar New Year (which ranges from late January to mid-February) and not on January 1st.
What does yin and yang mean in the Chinese zodiac?
Each of the 60 zodiac combinations carries either a yin (陰) or yang (陽) polarity, derived from the Heavenly Stem. Yang signs tend to be outward, active, and expansive; yin signs tend to be inward, receptive, and reflective. This polarity adds another layer of nuance to your animal and element.
Can I have the same sign as someone born in a different year?
Yes! Because the Chinese zodiac repeats every 12 years (for the animal) and every 60 years (for the full animal + element combination), many people share an animal sign. For instance, all people born in Rat years share the Rat animal — but the elements differ, so a 1960 Metal Rat and a 1972 Water Rat have distinct energies despite the same animal.