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 follows the Chinese calendar: the popular reckoning turns each year at Chinese New Year, while Chinese astrology marks the new year at Lichun (立春, "Start of Spring"), which falls on February 3, 4, or 5 depending on the year.
Right now we are in the Year of the Fire Horse 丙午. By the popular Lunar New Year calendar it began on Feb 17, 2026 and runs through Feb 5, 2027.
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.
Chinese Zodiac Years Chart (1924 to 2044)
Find your birth year below to see your sign, your element, and the exact dates your zodiac year began and ended. Two start dates are shown for each year: the Lunar New Year date most calendars use, and the Lichun date used in Chinese astrology. If you were born between the two, see the note below the chart.
All dates are given in China Standard Time. The New Year columns follow the lunar calendar (Chinese New Year to the eve of the next one). The Lichun column is the solar-term boundary used in Chinese astrology, computed from the actual astronomical instant for each year rather than a fixed February date.
Born in Late January or Early February?
The Chinese zodiac year does not start on January 1. It turns over in late January or early February, and there are actually two traditions for the exact day. The popular calendar changes signs at Chinese New Year, which moves between January 21 and February 20. Chinese astrology changes signs at Lichun, the solar term that marks the start of spring, which falls on February 3, 4, or 5 depending on the year.
Most birthdays get the same sign either way. But if you were born between Lichun and Chinese New Year, the two systems disagree. Someone born on February 8, 1975 is a Tiger by the popular calendar (the new year arrived February 11) but a Rabbit in Chinese astrology (spring began February 4). Our calculator and reports use the astrological boundary, because that is the convention Four Pillars chart readings are built on. If your birthday falls in this window, the calculator will show you both answers.
How to Find Your Chinese Element
Each zodiac year also carries one of five elements, making a full cycle of 60 combinations. There is a simple trick: the last digit of your zodiac year tells you your element.
| Year ends in | Element |
|---|---|
| 0 or 1 | Metal |
| 2 or 3 | Water |
| 4 or 5 | Wood |
| 6 or 7 | Fire |
| 8 or 9 | Earth |
One catch: use your zodiac year, not your calendar birth year. If you were born before the new year turned (late January or early February), your zodiac year is the previous calendar year, so use that year's last digit.
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 and the exact Lichun (Start of Spring) boundary for your birth year to determine your 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 is not January 1. In Chinese astrology the year turns at Lichun, which falls on February 3, 4, or 5 depending on the year, while the popular calendar turns it at Lunar New Year, anywhere from January 21 to February 20. So if you were born in January or the first days of February, your Chinese zodiac year is usually the previous year. Our calculator applies the exact boundary for your birth year 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?
Not on January 1. In Chinese astrology the new zodiac year begins at Lichun (立春, Start of Spring), which falls on February 3, 4, or 5 depending on the year. The popular calendar instead turns the year at Lunar New Year, which lands anywhere from January 21 to February 20. Either way, a January birthday almost always belongs to the previous calendar year's sign, and our calculator applies the exact boundary for your birth year automatically.
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.
What is my Chinese zodiac sign if I was born in January or February?
It depends on whether your birthday falls before or after the year boundary. The zodiac year starts at Lunar New Year (between January 21 and February 20) on the popular calendar, or at Lichun (February 3 to 5) in Chinese astrology. Born before the boundary, you belong to the previous year's sign; born after it, the new one. Enter your exact birth date in the calculator above and it will sort this out for you, including showing both answers if the two calendars disagree for your date.
When does the Chinese zodiac year start?
Not on January 1. The popular reckoning starts each zodiac year at Chinese New Year, usually the second new moon after the winter solstice, which lands between January 21 and February 20. Chinese astrology starts the year at Lichun, the beginning of spring in the solar calendar, on February 3, 4, or 5. The years chart on this page lists both dates for every year from 1924 to 2044.
What Chinese element am I?
Your element comes from the last digit of your zodiac year: 0 or 1 is Metal, 2 or 3 is Water, 4 or 5 is Wood, 6 or 7 is Fire, and 8 or 9 is Earth. For example, 1990 ends in 0, so 1990 is a Metal year (the Metal Horse). Remember to use your zodiac year: a January birthday usually belongs to the previous year's sign and element.