鼠 Rat
Quick-witted, resourceful and observant. Rats read a room fast, spot opportunity and rarely waste words. They can seem private or calculating to slower signs.
Best:DragonMonkeyWorst:Horse
Your Chinese zodiac,
element and this-year outlook.
Pick your birthday. Get your animal, five-element, yin/yang, lucky colors, numbers and directions — plus who you clash with and who you match with best.
Lichun (Feb 4) cutoff
60-year Jiazi
12 × 12 compatibility
No signup
We use the Lichun (Feb 4) cutoff — the same rule Chinese almanacs use. Dates before Feb 4 count as the previous zodiac year.
The 12 Chinese zodiac animals
Tap any animal to jump to its detail card. Each shows element, personality and who it matches or clashes with.
Compatibility matrix
Row + column = pairing. Green = triple harmony (三合), pale = pair harmony (六合), amber = harm (相害), red = clash (六冲).
Best (三合)
Good (六合)
Neutral
Harm (相害)
Clash (六冲)
Every animal explained
Long-tail reference for each of the 12 signs — quick personality, element, colors and best/worst matches.
牛 Ox
Steady, patient and dependable. Oxen build slowly and finish what they start. Their stubbornness is a feature — they outlast noisier signs.
Best:SnakeRoosterWorst:Goat
虎 Tiger
Bold, competitive and charismatic. Tigers lead from the front and take big swings. When bored they become restless — they need a challenge, not a routine.
Best:HorseDogWorst:Monkey
兔 Rabbit
Gentle, elegant and cautious. Rabbits avoid conflict and read subtext well. They hate being rushed and prefer beauty over brute strength.
Best:GoatPigWorst:Rooster
龙 Dragon
Confident, ambitious and magnetic. Dragons attract attention without trying and set big goals. The shadow side: pride and impatience with slower company.
Best:RatMonkeyWorst:Dog
蛇 Snake
Wise, mysterious and private. Snakes think before they speak and value depth over surface. They can seem cool or secretive to Fire and Wood signs.
Best:OxRoosterWorst:Pig
马 Horse
Energetic, independent and free-spirited. Horses need movement and dislike being managed. They start fast; the challenge is finishing.
Best:TigerDogWorst:Rat
羊 Goat
Kind, artistic and empathetic. Goats create rather than compete. They can be indecisive when under pressure — give them time and options.
Best:RabbitPigWorst:Ox
猴 Monkey
Clever, playful and inventive. Monkeys solve problems sideways and keep the mood light. They get bored fast — variety keeps them loyal.
Best:RatDragonWorst:Tiger
鸡 Rooster
Sharp, observant and punctual. Roosters spot details others miss and speak their mind. Their honesty can read as blunt to softer signs.
Best:OxSnakeWorst:Rabbit
狗 Dog
Loyal, honest and protective. Dogs stand by their people and call out injustice fast. When betrayed, they don't forget quickly.
Best:TigerHorseWorst:Dragon
猪 Pig
Warm, honest and generous. Pigs enjoy the good things — food, family, celebration — and rarely hold grudges. Their trust is easy, which some signs exploit.
Best:RabbitGoatWorst:Snake
Coming soon · $29 report
Want your Four Pillars (BaZi) reading?
The zodiac above is layer one. The full BaZi report needs your birth hour and location — and returns your day master, five-element balance, 10-year luck cycles and a month-by-month forecast for the year ahead.
Four pillars chart
Day master + element balance
10-year luck cycles
Monthly forecast
Career · wealth · relationship
PDF · 24h delivery
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Pair it with a Chinese name or tattoo
Your zodiac points to characters, elements and colors that fit you. Use one of the tools below to turn that into a name or a tattoo without a translation fail.
名
Chinese Name Generator
Get a Chinese name whose element and tone match your zodiac's five-element profile.
纹
Chinese Tattoo Checker
Thinking of a zodiac-animal tattoo? Verify the character's meaning, slang risk and cultural fit first.
牌
Chinese Brand Name Generator
Founders born under specific elements often pick brand names that echo them — check the fit before you register.
Articles & guides
Long-form playbooks pairing zodiac readings with real cultural context.
More zodiac playbooks in the Playbooks index →
FAQ
How do I know my Chinese zodiac sign?
Enter your Gregorian birth date. The calculator resolves the correct zodiac using the Lichun (Feb 4) cutoff, so people born in January or early February get the previous zodiac year — the same rule Chinese almanacs use.
What is my five element (Metal Wood Water Fire Earth)?
Your birth-year element comes from the Heavenly Stem in the 60-year Jiazi cycle. Two consecutive years share the same element in yang/yin order, so 1984 is Yang Wood, 1985 is Yin Wood, 1986 is Yang Fire, and so on.
What is a Ben Ming Nian (本命年)?
A zodiac year that matches your own — it comes every 12 years. Tradition treats it as a year of turbulence and advises wearing red, staying grounded and avoiding major risks like signing long contracts or getting married on impulse.
How is Chinese zodiac different from Western astrology?
Western astrology maps personality by month (sun signs). Chinese zodiac maps 12 animals to years, and combines each with a five-element cycle producing a 60-year identity. A full Chinese reading also considers the day and hour of birth — that is the Four Pillars (BaZi) system.
What are the six clashes (六冲)?
Six pairs of animals sit opposite each other on the zodiac wheel and are considered incompatible: Rat–Horse, Ox–Goat, Tiger–Monkey, Rabbit–Rooster, Dragon–Dog, Snake–Pig. In a clash year, the tradition advises caution with big decisions.
Is the compatibility matrix accurate for relationships?
The matrix reflects classical Chinese zodiac rules (three harmonies, six pairs, six clashes, six harms). Real compatibility depends on the full Four Pillars chart — day master, element balance and luck cycles. Use it as a cultural starting point, not a verdict.
Cultural and educational reference only. Not financial, medical or relationship advice.