---
title: "Chinese zodiac: find your animal and element by birth date"
description: "Free Chinese zodiac calculator: your animal, element and yin/yang from your birth date, with the exact Lunar New Year dates, compatibility and all 12 animals."
url: "https://12horoscope.com/en/chinese-zodiac"
markdown_url: "https://12horoscope.com/en/chinese-zodiac.md"
lang: "en"
type: "chineseZodiac"
current_year:
  animal: "horse"
  element: "fire"
  start: "2026-02-17"
  end: "2027-02-05"
site: "12horoscope.com"
license: "Free to quote and summarize with attribution and a link to the source page on 12horoscope.com."
citation: "12horoscope.com — Chinese zodiac: find your animal and element by birth date — https://12horoscope.com/en/chinese-zodiac"
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    markdown_url: "https://12horoscope.com/tr/cin-burcu.md"
  hi:
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---

# Which Chinese zodiac animal are you?

Twelve animals, five elements and the rhythm of yin and yang: the Chinese zodiac gives every lunar year a character. Your animal depends on when the lunar year began — not on January 1 — so enter your full birth date.

This page is an interactive tool in the browser version. [Chinese zodiac](https://12horoscope.com/en/chinese-zodiac)

- [The current lunar year: Fire Horse, 2026-02-17 – 2027-02-05.](https://12horoscope.com/en/chinese-zodiac/horse)
- Next: the Fire Goat year begins on 2027-02-06.

## The 12 animals

| The 12 animals | Years |
| --- | --- |
| [Rat](https://12horoscope.com/en/chinese-zodiac/rat) | 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 |
| [Ox](https://12horoscope.com/en/chinese-zodiac/ox) | 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021 |
| [Tiger](https://12horoscope.com/en/chinese-zodiac/tiger) | 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022 |
| [Rabbit](https://12horoscope.com/en/chinese-zodiac/rabbit) | 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023 |
| [Dragon](https://12horoscope.com/en/chinese-zodiac/dragon) | 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024 |
| [Snake](https://12horoscope.com/en/chinese-zodiac/snake) | 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025 |
| [Horse](https://12horoscope.com/en/chinese-zodiac/horse) | 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026 |
| [Goat](https://12horoscope.com/en/chinese-zodiac/goat) | 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027 |
| [Monkey](https://12horoscope.com/en/chinese-zodiac/monkey) | 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 |
| [Rooster](https://12horoscope.com/en/chinese-zodiac/rooster) | 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017 |
| [Dog](https://12horoscope.com/en/chinese-zodiac/dog) | 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018 |
| [Pig](https://12horoscope.com/en/chinese-zodiac/pig) | 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019 |

## Western sign × Chinese animal

Your Sun sign and your animal describe different layers of you. Pick both to read your blend — 144 combinations, each with its own page.

## How the Chinese zodiac works

### Twelve animals

The animals follow one another in a fixed twelve-year cycle: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.

### Five elements

Each year also carries an element — Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal or Water — from the year's heavenly stem, so the same animal returns in five versions over a 60-year cycle.

### Lunar New Year boundary

The year changes at Lunar New Year, on the second new moon after the winter solstice (with rare exceptions), between January 21 and February 20. If you were born in January or early February, check the exact date.

### Allies and clashes

Animals four years apart form trines of natural allies; each animal also has a secret friend, a clash (the opposite animal) and a harm pairing. Tradition, not destiny.

---

## How this content is made

Planet positions are computed with astronomy-engine (geocentric, tropical zodiac, whole-sign houses counted from the Sun sign). Scores, lucky items and matches are calculated, not written. Readings are drafted by AI from that computed sky brief, checked automatically and edited by people. Astrology here is for reflection and entertainment, not medical, legal or financial advice. [Methodology](https://12horoscope.com/en/methodology).

- **License:** Free to quote and summarize with attribution and a link to the source page on 12horoscope.com.
- **Please cite as:** 12horoscope.com — Chinese zodiac: find your animal and element by birth date — https://12horoscope.com/en/chinese-zodiac
- If you quote or summarize this page, please link to the source page: https://12horoscope.com/en/chinese-zodiac