Chinese Zodiac in English
The Chinese Zodiac is actually quite complicated. Most people know as a 12 year cycle of animals based on the the Lunar Calendar. That’s the simplified way of looking at it.
The Chinese Zodiac is complicated
Here is where it gets complicated. In addition to your Animal Sign, there are four other other elements that affect your Chinese Zodiac.
- There is an Earthly Branch (地支 dì zhī) that is assigned to you based on the time you were born.
zi (子), chǒu (醜), yín (寅), mǎo (卯), chén (辰), sì (巳), wǔ (午), wèi (未), shēn (申), yǒu (酉), xū (戌), hài (亥) - Then there are Ten Celestial Stems (天干 / tiān gān) that cycle every year.
jiǎ (甲), yǐ (乙), bǐng (丙), ding (丁), wù (戊), jǐ (己), gēng (庚), xīn (辛), rén (壬), guǐ (癸) - Each animals is then also classified as a Ying or Yang.
yīn (陰) or yáng (陽) - Finally you are assigned one of 5 Elements
water (水 / shuǐ), wood (木 / mù), fire (火 / huǒ), earth (土 / tǔ), metal (金 / jīn).
A baby born today would be a Tiger (Hǔ 虎), Yin (Yín 寅), Ren (Rén 壬), Water ( shuǐ 水), Yang (yáng 阳) baby.
I’m a teacher not a fortune teller. I guess you should find a Chinese fortune teller if you want to know more.
What is your Chinese Zodiac?
We previously covered some Basic Chinese New Year Expressions. What about personality types based on your Chinese Zodiac? When you talk about your horoscope you say “I was born in the year of the (animal)“
For example: I was born in 1982, I was born in the year of the dog.
Year of the Rat 鼠年 Shǔ nián
People born in the year of the rat like saving and collecting.
Animal Personality Traits:
quick-witted 機智 jīzhì
resourceful 足智多謀 zúzhìduōmóu
versatile 多才多藝的 duōcáiduōyì de
kind 善良 shànliáng
Year of the Ox 牛年 Niú nián
People born in the year of the ox are hard workers and have a strong sense of responsibility.
Animal Personality Traits:
diligent 勤奮 qínfèn
dependable 可靠 kěkào
strong 堅強 jiānqiáng
determined 堅定 jiāndìng
Year of the Tiger 虎年 hǔ nián
People born in the year of the Tiger are independent and have high self-esteem.
Animal Personality Traits:
quick-witted 機智 jīzhì
resourceful 足智多謀 zúzhìduōmóu
versatile 多才多藝 duōcáiduōyì
kind 善良 shànliáng
Year of the Rabbit 兔年 Tù nián
People born in the year of the rabbit are gentle, quiet, and polite.
Animal Personality Traits:
quiet 安靜 ānjìng
elegant 優雅 yōuyǎ
kind 善良 shànliáng
responsible 負責 fùzé
Year of the Dragon 龍年 lóng nián
People born in the year of the dragon want adventure and are mysterious.
Animal Personality Traits:
confident 自信 zìxìn
intelligent 聰明 cōngmíng
enthusiastic 熱情 rèqíng
Year of the Snake 蛇年 Shé nián
People born in the year of the snake are idealists,
Animal Personality Traits:
enigmatic 神秘 shénmì
intelligent 聰明 cōngmíng
wise 睿智 ruìzhì
Year of the Horse 馬年 Mǎ nián
People born in the year of the horse never surrender.
Animal Personality Traits:
animated 生氣勃勃 shēngqì bóbó
active 活躍 huóyuè
energetic 精力充沛 jīnglì chōngpèi
Year of the Goat 羊年 Yáng nián
People born in the year of the goat have a pure and kind heart.
Animal Personality Traits:
calm 冷靜 lěngjìng
gentle 溫柔 wēnróu
sympathetic 富有同情心 fùyǒu tóngqíng xīn
Year of the Monkey 猴年 Hóu nián
People born in the year of the monkey do things based on their interests.
Animal Personality Traits:
sharp 心靈 xīnlíng
smart 聰明 cōngmíng
curious 好奇 hàoqí
Year of the Rooster 雞年 Jī nián
People born in the year of the rooster can feel what other people are thinking or feeling.
Animal Personality Traits:
observant 細心 xìxīn
hardworking 勤奮 qínfèn
courageous 勇敢yǒnggǎn
Year of the Dog 狗年 gǒu nián
People born in the year of the dog are conservative and full of justice.
Animal Personality Traits:
lovely 可愛 kě’ài
honest 誠實 chéngshí
prudent 謹慎 jǐnshèn
Year of the Pig 豬年 zhū nián
People born in the year of the pig are logical and can fix any problem they are in.
Animal Personality Traits:
compassionate 富有同情心 fùyǒu tóngqíng xīn
generous 慷慨 kāngkǎi
diligent 勤奮 qínfèn
Are you two compatible?
What about love? Are you and your partner compatible based on your Chinese Zodiac? Some people believe in this, some people don’t. We believe that open communication can solve most issues at work and also in love.
But if you are curious, look at the chart below.
