Do you know which Chinese zodiac animal represents you?
The Chinese lunar calendar begins every year around the start of February, and one of 12 significant animals steps up to rule the roost for the next 12 months. The year you were born in dictates which animal represents you, and the differences are nothing short of fascinating.
The Chinese believe that your zodiac animal “hides in your heart,” so there’s much to be learned from the animal that rules your year of birth. Are you a rat, tiger, dragon, or something else entirely?
The Rat
Years: 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020
Oh, rats are charming and no mistake. People born in the year of the rat are loyal to their chosen favorite people, and they’re generous, but not to a fault. People outside of the circle of trust can spark a rat’s short temper, but their bark is worse than their bite.
The Ox
Years: 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009
People born in the year of the ox are bold and tenacious (no surprises there!). Responsible and methodical, oxen are also great at getting themselves out of sticky situations.
The Tiger
Years: 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010
Tigers are emotional and sensitive. They fight passionately, and they love even more fiercely than that.
The Rabbit
Years: 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011
Much like the gentle rabbit, people born in the year of the rabbit are meek, polite, and popular. Rabbits are excellent at keeping the peace, but don’t mistake their placid temperament for a lack of caring; rabbits are highly sensitive.
The Dragon
Years: 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012
Can you guess? Of course you can! Dragons are feisty, boisterous, and highly ambitious. Talent meets perfectionism in this awesome creature, and people born in the year of the dragon have the capacity to become extremely successful.
The Snake
Years: 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013
Snakes are tremendously deep thinkers who have the capacity to drift off into complex intellectual realms. People born in the year of the snake are likely to be very charming, a little secretive, and often prefer to be alone.
The Horse
Years: 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014
Horses pull carts for a reason; they are strong, hardworking, and immensely driven. People born in the year of the horse have excellent negotiating skills and will always perform well socially.
The Sheep
Years: 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015
People born in the year of the sheep are perhaps the most immediately likeable of all. They can be a little grumpy and have a tendency to complain, but sheep are kind and empathic; if you know a sheep, then you'll know that they are excellent listeners!
The Monkey
Years: 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016
The phrase “monkeying around” rings true for good reason! People born in the year of the monkey are lively attention seekers with magnetic personalities; everybody loves a monkey.
The Rooster
Years: 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017
People born in the year of the rooster are industrious and hardworking. Great communicators, these people can sometimes adopt too lofty a view of their own ideas, and occasionally it can do them good to be brought down a peg or two.
The Dog
Years: 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018
Dog people, much like their faithful animal counterparts, make for wonderful friends and companions. Enthusiastic to a fault, dogs put their all into everything they do.
The Pig
Years: 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019
Gentle, intelligent, and very industrious, pigs are the unsung heroes of the animal kingdom. People born in the year of the pig are fascinating, witty intellectuals who set the bar high for their own achievements.
Pigs can be idealists, and because harmony is so important to the pig, they can occasionally neglect to account for the bigger picture. Still, their naiveté is quite charming!
Did you find anything out about yourself that you didn’t know before? Celebrate the diversity of the Chinese zodiac by matching your friends and family to their zodiac animal allies!
