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Chinese zodiac
Put in your birthday to find your animal and element, counted from the exact day of Chinese New Year, what they mean, and how to say it in Chinese. 2026 is the Year of the Horse, 马年.
Your zodiac animal
Born 15 June 1990
马
Metal Horse
- Say it
- 我属马
- Element
- 金 Metal
- Your year
- 1990, 庚午 , from 27 January 1990
You are a Rat, 鼠
The Rat comes first of the twelve: in the old story of the Great Race it rode across the river on the Ox’s back and jumped off at the finish. People born in a Rat year are said to be quick-witted and resourceful, the first to spot a chance and careful to save for a rainy day.
Strengths
- 机灵 quick-witted
- 节俭 thrifty
- 适应力强 adaptable
Watch out for
- 多疑 suspicious
- 胆小 timid
Best matches and clash
2026, the Year of the Horse, clashes with your sign, 冲太岁 (chōng tài suì). Tradition says to take it steady, and red is said to help.
Sayings with the Rat
- 胆小如鼠 as timid as a mouse
- 鼠目寸光 a rat’s eyes see an inch: short-sighted
Rat years and their elements
- 1924 甲子 Wood
- 1936 丙子 Fire
- 1948 戊子 Earth
- 1960 庚子 Metal
- 1972 壬子 Water
- 1984 甲子 Wood
- 1996 丙子 Fire
- 2008 戊子 Earth
- 2020 庚子 Metal
What tradition says, for fun. The matches are the classical 三合 and 六合; 六冲 is the animal six years away.
You are a Ox, 牛
The Ox carried the Rat across the river and came in second. People born in an Ox year are said to be patient, honest and hard-working: slow to start, and then impossible to stop.
Watch out for
Best matches and clash
2026, the Year of the Horse, is neither your own year nor a clash, so tradition calls it an ordinary year for you.
Sayings with the Ox
- 对牛弹琴 play the lute to an ox: talk to the wrong audience
- 九牛一毛 one hair off nine oxen: a drop in the ocean
Ox years and their elements
- 1925 乙丑 Wood
- 1937 丁丑 Fire
- 1949 己丑 Earth
- 1961 辛丑 Metal
- 1973 癸丑 Water
- 1985 乙丑 Wood
- 1997 丁丑 Fire
- 2009 己丑 Earth
- 2021 辛丑 Metal
What tradition says, for fun. The matches are the classical 三合 and 六合; 六冲 is the animal six years away.
You are a Tiger, 虎
The Tiger is king of the mountain forests, with the stripes of 王, “king”, on its forehead. People born in a Tiger year are said to be brave and confident, born leaders who act fast and protect the people they love.
Strengths
- 勇敢 brave
- 自信 confident
- 有正义感 a strong sense of justice
Watch out for
Best matches and clash
2026, the Year of the Horse, is a friendly year for you: the Horse is one of your matches.
Sayings with the Tiger
- 虎头蛇尾 a tiger’s head and a snake’s tail: a strong start and a weak finish
- 如虎添翼 like a tiger given wings: stronger than ever
Tiger years and their elements
- 1926 丙寅 Fire
- 1938 戊寅 Earth
- 1950 庚寅 Metal
- 1962 壬寅 Water
- 1974 甲寅 Wood
- 1986 丙寅 Fire
- 1998 戊寅 Earth
- 2010 庚寅 Metal
- 2022 壬寅 Water
What tradition says, for fun. The matches are the classical 三合 and 六合; 六冲 is the animal six years away.
You are a Rabbit, 兔
The Rabbit is the Jade Rabbit, 玉兔, who lives on the moon with Chang’e. People born in a Rabbit year are said to be gentle, kind and graceful, peacemakers with good taste who would rather talk than fight.
Strengths
Watch out for
Best matches and clash
2026, the Year of the Horse, is neither your own year nor a clash, so tradition calls it an ordinary year for you.
Sayings with the Rabbit
- 守株待兔 guard a stump and wait for a rabbit: wait for luck instead of working
- 狡兔三窟 a clever rabbit has three burrows: always have a plan B
Rabbit years and their elements
- 1927 丁卯 Fire
- 1939 己卯 Earth
- 1951 辛卯 Metal
- 1963 癸卯 Water
- 1975 乙卯 Wood
- 1987 丁卯 Fire
- 1999 己卯 Earth
- 2011 辛卯 Metal
- 2023 癸卯 Water
What tradition says, for fun. The matches are the classical 三合 and 六合; 六冲 is the animal six years away.
You are a Dragon, 龙
The Dragon is the only one of the twelve that isn’t real, and the luckiest: emperors wore it, and many families hope for a Dragon baby. People born in a Dragon year are said to be ambitious, energetic and charismatic, people who think big.
Best matches and clash
2026, the Year of the Horse, is neither your own year nor a clash, so tradition calls it an ordinary year for you.
Sayings with the Dragon
- 画龙点睛 paint a dragon, then dot its eyes: the finishing touch
- 望子成龙 hope your son becomes a dragon: high hopes for a child
Dragon years and their elements
- 1928 戊辰 Earth
- 1940 庚辰 Metal
- 1952 壬辰 Water
- 1964 甲辰 Wood
- 1976 丙辰 Fire
- 1988 戊辰 Earth
- 2000 庚辰 Metal
- 2012 壬辰 Water
- 2024 甲辰 Wood
What tradition says, for fun. The matches are the classical 三合 and 六合; 六冲 is the animal six years away.
You are a Snake, 蛇
The Snake is called the “little dragon”, 小龙. People born in a Snake year are said to be calm, wise and intuitive: private people who think before they speak and rarely miss.
Strengths
- 冷静 calm
- 有智慧 wise
- 优雅 graceful
Watch out for
- 多疑 suspicious
- 嫉妒 jealous
Best matches and clash
2026, the Year of the Horse, is neither your own year nor a clash, so tradition calls it an ordinary year for you.
Sayings with the Snake
- 画蛇添足 draw a snake and add feet: overdo it
- 打草惊蛇 beat the grass and startle the snake: give yourself away
Snake years and their elements
- 1929 己巳 Earth
- 1941 辛巳 Metal
- 1953 癸巳 Water
- 1965 乙巳 Wood
- 1977 丁巳 Fire
- 1989 己巳 Earth
- 2001 辛巳 Metal
- 2013 癸巳 Water
- 2025 乙巳 Wood
What tradition says, for fun. The matches are the classical 三合 and 六合; 六冲 is the animal six years away.
You are a Horse, 马
The Horse runs free. People born in a Horse year are said to be lively, warm and independent, quick on their feet and happiest on the move and in good company.
Watch out for
- 没耐心 impatient
- 任性 headstrong
Best matches and clash
2026, the Year of the Horse, is your 本命年 (běn mìng nián), your own year, which comes round every twelve years. Tradition says it is a year to go carefully, and many people wear red for luck.
Sayings with the Horse
Horse years and their elements
- 1930 庚午 Metal
- 1942 壬午 Water
- 1954 甲午 Wood
- 1966 丙午 Fire
- 1978 戊午 Earth
- 1990 庚午 Metal
- 2002 壬午 Water
- 2014 甲午 Wood
- 2026 丙午 Fire
What tradition says, for fun. The matches are the classical 三合 and 六合; 六冲 is the animal six years away.
You are a Goat, 羊
The Goat is also the Sheep: 羊 means both. People born in a Goat year are said to be easy-going, creative and caring, the kind of person who makes any place feel like home.
Strengths
- 温和 easy-going
- 有创意 creative
- 体贴 caring
Watch out for
Best matches and clash
2026, the Year of the Horse, is a friendly year for you: the Horse is one of your matches.
Sayings with the Goat
- 亡羊补牢 mend the pen after a sheep is lost: better late than never
- 顺手牵羊 lead a sheep off in passing: take something while no one looks
Goat years and their elements
- 1931 辛未 Metal
- 1943 癸未 Water
- 1955 乙未 Wood
- 1967 丁未 Fire
- 1979 己未 Earth
- 1991 辛未 Metal
- 2003 癸未 Water
- 2015 乙未 Wood
- 2027 丁未 Fire
What tradition says, for fun. The matches are the classical 三合 and 六合; 六冲 is the animal six years away.
You are a Monkey, 猴
The Monkey is Sun Wukong, the Monkey King of Journey to the West. People born in a Monkey year are said to be clever, funny and curious, quick learners who can solve anything and love a joke.
Strengths
Watch out for
- 顽皮 mischievous
- 爱炫耀 a show-off
Best matches and clash
2026, the Year of the Horse, is neither your own year nor a clash, so tradition calls it an ordinary year for you.
Sayings with the Monkey
- 杀鸡儆猴 kill the chicken to warn the monkey: punish one to warn the rest
- 猴年马月 the year of the monkey, the month of the horse: who knows when
Monkey years and their elements
- 1932 壬申 Water
- 1944 甲申 Wood
- 1956 丙申 Fire
- 1968 戊申 Earth
- 1980 庚申 Metal
- 1992 壬申 Water
- 2004 甲申 Wood
- 2016 丙申 Fire
- 2028 戊申 Earth
What tradition says, for fun. The matches are the classical 三合 and 六合; 六冲 is the animal six years away.
You are a Rooster, 鸡
The Rooster wakes the world each morning. People born in a Rooster year are said to be confident, hard-working and frank: early risers who notice every detail and say what they think.
Strengths
- 自信 confident
- 勤奋 diligent
- 直率 frank
Watch out for
- 爱面子 cares about face
- 挑剔 picky
Best matches and clash
2026, the Year of the Horse, is neither your own year nor a clash, so tradition calls it an ordinary year for you.
Sayings with the Rooster
- 闻鸡起舞 hear the rooster and rise to practise: work hard from dawn
- 鹤立鸡群 a crane among chickens: stand out from the crowd
Rooster years and their elements
- 1933 癸酉 Water
- 1945 乙酉 Wood
- 1957 丁酉 Fire
- 1969 己酉 Earth
- 1981 辛酉 Metal
- 1993 癸酉 Water
- 2005 乙酉 Wood
- 2017 丁酉 Fire
- 2029 己酉 Earth
What tradition says, for fun. The matches are the classical 三合 and 六合; 六冲 is the animal six years away.
You are a Dog, 狗
The Dog is the faithful friend. People born in a Dog year are said to be loyal, honest and fair: they stand by their friends and stand up for what is right.
Strengths
Watch out for
- 爱担心 a worrier
- 固执 stubborn
Best matches and clash
2026, the Year of the Horse, is a friendly year for you: the Horse is one of your matches.
Sayings with the Dog
- 狗急跳墙 a cornered dog jumps the wall: desperate people do desperate things
- 鸡飞狗跳 chickens fly and dogs jump: total chaos
Dog years and their elements
- 1934 甲戌 Wood
- 1946 丙戌 Fire
- 1958 戊戌 Earth
- 1970 庚戌 Metal
- 1982 壬戌 Water
- 1994 甲戌 Wood
- 2006 丙戌 Fire
- 2018 戊戌 Earth
- 2030 庚戌 Metal
What tradition says, for fun. The matches are the classical 三合 and 六合; 六冲 is the animal six years away.
You are a Pig, 猪
The Pig came in last, after stopping for a meal and a nap on the way. People born in a Pig year are said to be kind-hearted, generous and easy-going: they enjoy life and trust others.
Best matches and clash
2026, the Year of the Horse, is neither your own year nor a clash, so tradition calls it an ordinary year for you.
Sayings with the Pig
- 肥猪拱门 a fat pig nudges the door: good fortune arrives
- 猪朋狗友 pig friends and dog friends: bad company
Pig years and their elements
- 1935 乙亥 Wood
- 1947 丁亥 Fire
- 1959 己亥 Earth
- 1971 辛亥 Metal
- 1983 癸亥 Water
- 1995 乙亥 Wood
- 2007 丁亥 Fire
- 2019 己亥 Earth
- 2031 辛亥 Metal
What tradition says, for fun. The matches are the classical 三合 and 六合; 六冲 is the animal six years away.
What Metal means
Metal is strength and a clean edge, the harvest of autumn. People born in a Metal year are said to be determined and clear-minded, sure of what they want.
- Season
- 秋 autumn
- Direction
- 西 west
- Colour
- 白 white
Words for a Metal Horse
- 活泼 lively
- 坚强 strong-willed
- 果断 decisive
Each year has one of five elements, 五行 , two years each, so the same animal and element meet once every sixty years. The traits are what tradition says, for fun.
Share yours
Post your sign and ask your friends theirs: 你属什么？
The 12 animals and their years
Open an animal for its personality, matches, sayings and every year with its element.
- 鼠Rat196019721984199620082020
- 牛Ox196119731985199720092021
- 虎Tiger196219741986199820102022
- 兔Rabbit196319751987199920112023
- 龙Dragon196419761988200020122024
- 蛇Snake196519771989200120132025
- 马Horse196619781990200220142026
- 羊Goat196719791991200320152027
- 猴Monkey196819801992200420162028
- 鸡Rooster196919811993200520172029
- 狗Dog197019821994200620182030
- 猪Pig197119831995200720192031
How the zodiac works
Each year of the Chinese calendar belongs to one of twelve animals, in a cycle that starts again every twelve years. The year begins at Chinese New Year, so a January or February birthday can belong to the year before. This page counts from each year’s New Year from 1900 to 2100.
Saying it in Chinese
The zodiac is 生肖 , and your animal is what you 属, “belong to”: 我属马 . To ask, 你属什么？ A year is named the same way: 马年 is the Year of the Horse. In everyday speech some animals take a longer word: a tiger is 老虎 and a monkey 猴子 , but you still say 我属虎 .
Your 本命年
The year of your own animal comes round every twelve years and is your 本命年 . Many people wear red that year for luck.
Questions
What Chinese zodiac year is 2026?
2026 is the Year of the Horse, 马年 (mǎ nián). It began on 17 February 2026 and runs to the day before Chinese New Year on 7 February 2027.
How do you say your zodiac animal in Chinese?
Say 我属 (wǒ shǔ) and the animal: 我属马, “I belong to the Horse”. To ask someone, say 你属什么？ (nǐ shǔ shén me?).
Why does my animal depend on my birthday, not just my year?
The zodiac year starts at Chinese New Year, between 21 January and 20 February, not on 1 January. In 1990 the New Year fell on 27 January, so someone born on 1 February 1990 is a Horse, and someone born on 20 January 1990 is still a Snake.
What is my Chinese zodiac element?
Each year also has one of five elements, Wood 木, Fire 火, Earth 土, Metal 金 and Water 水, two years each, from the year's heavenly stem. 2026 is a Fire year, so its people are Fire Horses. Put in your birthday above to see yours and what tradition says it means.
What are the 12 Chinese zodiac animals in order?
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.