Chinese Zodiac Calculator
The zodiac year does not begin on 1 January, so people born in January and early February are often surprised. Enter your date to see your real animal.
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The Chinese zodiac runs in a 12-year cycle of animals, combined with five elements. This calculator uses the solar year of the Four Pillars system, which turns around 4 February at Li Chun, the start of spring. The element comes from the year's heavenly stem.
Common questions
- Why is my animal different from the one in the Gregorian year?
- The zodiac year begins in early February, so anyone born before then belongs to the previous year's animal.
- Which animals match best?
- Each animal belongs to a group of three that get along well, called a trine. For example, the Rat, Dragon and Monkey form one group.
- What is a clash year?
- Each animal has an opposite six signs away, such as the Rat and the Horse. Tradition reads this pair as the hardest match.
Read the full guideThe 12 Chinese zodiac animals and their years