Zodiac animal
The 12 animal signs come from the Earthly Branches and repeat in the same order every 12 years.
Free Chinese zodiac calculator
Chinese Zodiac Chart Calculator
Enter your birth date to find your Chinese zodiac animal, year element, Yin or Yang polarity, compatible signs, and exact zodiac-year dates. Birthdays around Chinese New Year are handled automatically.
BING WU2026Fire Horse
Rat
Ox
Tiger
Rabbit
Dragon
Snake
Horse
Goat
Monkey
Rooster
Dog
Pig
2026 ยท Year of the Fire Horse
Your complete zodiac-year profile
Your animal sign is only the beginning
Each zodiac year pairs one of 12 animals with one of five elements, creating a 60-year cycle. Yin and Yang alternate through that cycle and shape how each combination is expressed. Two people can share the same animal sign while having a different element and polarity.
12
Zodiac animal
ร
=5
Year element
60
year cycle
Year element
The Heavenly Stem of the year adds one of five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, or Water.
Yin or Yang
Every year is also Yin or Yang. This polarity describes whether the year's qualities are expressed more inwardly or outwardly.
Especially important for January and February birthdays
Why your exact birth date matters
The Chinese zodiac does not change on January 1. If you were born in January or early February, the year alone is not enough to identify your animal sign.
When the two systems produce different results, Mingora shows both and explains which one is your animal sign and which one belongs to your BaZi chart.
For your animal sign: Chinese New Year
The animal sign most people know changes at Chinese New Year. This calculator checks your birth date against that year's exact New Year date and shows the full date range for your sign.
For your BaZi Year Pillar: Li Chun
In BaZi, the Year Pillar changes at Li Chun, the Beginning of Spring. Li Chun usually falls between February 3 and 5, so the animal sign and the BaZi Year Pillar can differ during the days between Li Chun and Chinese New Year.
The Chinese zodiac cycle
Meet the 12 Chinese zodiac signs
The signs always follow the same 12-year sequence: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. The Goat sign is also translated as Sheep or Ram in English.
Rat
Ox
Tiger
Rabbit
Dragon
Snake
Horse
Goat / Sheep
Monkey
Rooster
Dog
Pig
Chinese zodiac years
Chinese zodiac years from 2020 to 2031
This table shows each year's animal sign, element, and polarity. If your birthday falls in January or February, use the calculator above because the zodiac year begins at Chinese New Year, not January 1.
Explore the 2027 Fire Goat guide| Year | Animal | Element | Polarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Rat | Metal | Yang |
| 2021 | Ox | Metal | Yin |
| 2022 | Tiger | Water | Yang |
| 2023 | Rabbit | Water | Yin |
| 2024 | Dragon | Wood | Yang |
| 2025 | Snake | Wood | Yin |
| 2026 | Horse | Fire | Yang |
| 2027 | Goat / Sheep | Fire | Yin |
| 2028 | Monkey | Earth | Yang |
| 2029 | Rooster | Earth | Yin |
| 2030 | Dog | Metal | Yang |
| 2031 | Pig | Metal | Yin |
Chinese zodiac compatibility
Which signs are traditionally compatible with yours?
Traditional zodiac compatibility looks at the relationships among the 12 Earthly Branches. Your result highlights the signs most often associated with harmony, along with the sign that sits directly opposite yours in the cycle.
Three Harmonies
Four groups of three signs that are traditionally associated with an easy flow of goals, pace, and temperament.
Six Harmonies
Six one-to-one pairings traditionally associated with mutual support and complementary strengths.
Six Clashes
Six opposing pairs that can point to different rhythms or approaches. A clash does not decide whether a relationship will succeed.
Go beyond the year sign
Your animal sign is one part of your BaZi chart
Your zodiac sign describes the year of your birth. A BaZi chart adds the month, day, hour, and birth location to reveal your Four Pillars, Day Master, and overall Five Elements pattern.
Four PillarsDay MasterFive Elements balanceLocation-aware timing
Chinese zodiac calculator FAQ
What is my Chinese zodiac sign?+
In common English usage, your Chinese horoscope sign usually means your Chinese zodiac animal. Enter your full birth date to find the correct animal, year element, and Yin or Yang polarity. The calculator uses the exact date of Chinese New Year, so it also handles January and February birthdays correctly.
Does the Chinese zodiac year start on January 1?+
No. The animal sign changes at Chinese New Year, which falls in January or February. If you were born before Chinese New Year, your sign belongs to the previous zodiac year.
Why do Chinese zodiac calculators sometimes disagree?+
Some calculators change the sign on January 1, others use Chinese New Year, and BaZi calculators use Li Chun for the Year Pillar. Mingora uses Chinese New Year for your animal sign and shows the Li Chun result separately when the two differ.
How do I find my Chinese zodiac element?+
Your zodiac-year element comes from the Heavenly Stem paired with that year. The five elements are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. The result also includes the year's Yin or Yang polarity.
Is Goat the same sign as Sheep or Ram?+
Yes. Goat, Sheep, and Ram are all used as English translations of ๆช (Wei), the eighth sign in the zodiac. Mingora uses Goat and notes the common alternatives where helpful.
Is Chinese zodiac compatibility the same as BaZi compatibility?+
No. Zodiac compatibility compares the animal signs of two birth years. A BaZi compatibility analysis can also compare both people's Year, Month, Day, and Hour Pillars, Day Masters, and Five Elements patterns.