Chinese New Year Zodiac Animals

 Before you look up your own birth year, note if you were born in January or Febuary your birth animal might be the one from the previous year.  This is because the Chinese New Year does not start on the same day as the Calendars used commonly elsewhere in the world. 

RAT – 2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960, 1948, 1936

Hardworking and charming, but can be manipulative or vindictive. Critical and prone to gossip. Enjoys collecting “things”. Very generous to those they love. Rat people make good writers or critics.

OXEN – 2009, 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961, 1949, 1937

Patient and methodical, but can be stubborn or narrow-minded. Can hold a grudge, but is very loyal. Being somewhat judgmental makes it hard for them to make close friends. People born under the Oxen are good with their hands, often making good hairdressers or surgeons.

TIGER – 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962, 1950, 1938

Unpredictable but loves being the center of attention. Generous and sincere but can be restless or impatient. Tigers are natural born leaders. People born under this sign make good employers or explorers.

RABBIT – 2011, 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963, 1951, 1939

Gracious and kind, but not always modest or generous. Tend to have good fortune. Can be shy or sentimental. Rabbits are not risk takers. People born under the Rabbit make good actors or actresses, or do well in law.

DRAGON – 2012, 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964, 1952, 1940

Proud, passionate, and self-assured, but with a flare for the dramatic. Dragons can be moody but tend to have a positive outlook and vivid imagination. Dragons have a great ability to mediate and find peace in the face of dispute. Dragon people make good artists or politicians.
SNAKE – 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965, 1953, 1941

Deep thinker and resourceful, but can be self doubting or a bit of a loner. Snakes have good natural intuition. Snakes hold the wisdom of all ages. Snake people do well in the fields of psychiatry or education.

HORSE – 2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966, 1954, 1942

Quick witted, intelligent and open-minded, but might not finish projects they start. A free spirit and non-conformist. Horses not only crave love and intimacy, but sometimes feel trapped by it. People born under this sign make good poets or scientists.

SHEEP /GOAT– 2015, 2003, 1991, 1979, 1967, 1955, 1943

Mild mannered, understanding, and compassionate, but can be shy and over cautious. Prone to complaining. They understand the ways of being harmonious with nature, and welcome “New Age” ideas. Sheep people do well as gardeners, or in the field of acting.

MONKEY -2016, 2004, 1992, 1980, 1968, 1956, 1944

Sociable and polite, but vain, to the point of having a superiority complex. Monkeys are excellent problem solvers who can be prone to jealously and distrustful. They tend to think the world revolves around them and for them. Monkeys do well in the field of science, or education.

ROOSTER – 2017, 2005, 1993, 1981, 1969, 1957, 1945

Brave and responsible but reckless. Probably one of the most misunderstood animals. Roosters are self assured and opinionated. Roosters are perfectionists who thrive on precision. Roosters do well in the service industries and in travel and tourism.

DOG – 2018, 2006, 1994, 1982, 1970, 1958, 1946

Loyal and honest, but can be judgmental or quarrelsome. Dogs are probably the best friends in the zodiac. Sometimes dogs have irrational worries and high standards, which may be a problem in relationships. Dogs make good business people or debaters.

PIG – 2019, 2007, 1995, 1983, 1971, 1950, 1947

Hardworking and reliable, but sometimes naïve or gullible. Pigs are peace loving and often to take on more responsibility than they should. They give themselves freely and are sometimes hurt as a result. Pig people do well in the fields of arts and entertainment.

Photo by Dinh Ngoc Dung, from Wikimedia Commons.