Enter a birth date
Pick any date from 1900 onwards, or keep today's date to see the current year's animal.
Chinese Zodiac by Birth Date
Pick a birth date and see the Chinese zodiac animal, or shengxiao, that belongs to it. The animal comes from the lunar year, so the result is calculated with a full lunar calendar conversion rather than a simple year lookup.
Please choose a valid birth date first.
Three simple steps
How to Find Your Chinese Zodiac Animal
One date is all it takes, and the answer appears as you pick.
Read the result
The result shows the animal's Chinese character, its English name and the lunar year it belongs to.
Try another date
Change the date to compare family and friends. The result updates as soon as a new date is chosen.
The twelve animals
How the Twelve Year Cycle Works
Each lunar year carries one animal, and the cycle repeats every twelve years.
| Order | Animal | Recent years |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rat | 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 |
| 2 | Ox | 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021 |
| 3 | Tiger | 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022 |
| 4 | Rabbit | 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023 |
| 5 | Dragon | 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024 |
| 6 | Snake | 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025 |
| 7 | Horse | 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026 |
| 8 | Goat | 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 |
| 9 | Monkey | 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 |
| 10 | Rooster | 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017 |
| 11 | Dog | 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018 |
| 12 | Pig | 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019 |
January and February caution: the cycle follows the lunar new year, which usually falls between late January and mid February. A birthday in the first weeks of a year can belong to the previous animal, which is why this tool converts the date properly instead of guessing from the year number.
Free zodiac lookup
A Proper Lunar Calendar Calculation
Not a year modulo twelve shortcut, a real conversion that handles the date boundaries.
Lunar year accurate
The date is converted to the Chinese lunar calendar before the animal is read, so early year birthdays are correct.
Two languages
Each result shows the animal in English and in Chinese characters, with an illustration.
Instant updates
The result refreshes the moment you choose a new date, with no extra button press.
Private and local
The calculation runs in your browser, so the birth date you enter is never uploaded.
Questions and answers
Chinese Zodiac FAQ
Is the zodiac lookup free?
Yes. The lookup is free with no signup and it runs entirely in your browser.
How is the zodiac animal calculated?
The birth date is converted to the Chinese lunar calendar, and the animal is taken from the lunar year, known as shengxiao. Because the lunar year does not start on 1 January, a date in January or February can belong to the previous animal.
Why is my animal different from the one I expected?
The most common reason is a birthday in January or February. The Chinese zodiac follows the lunar new year, which usually falls between late January and mid February, so early year dates often belong to the previous sign.
What are the twelve animals?
In order they are Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. Each one is associated with a year in a repeating twelve year cycle.
Is my birth date uploaded?
No. The lunar calendar conversion runs with JavaScript in your browser, so the date you choose never leaves your device.
Which dates are supported?
Any date from 1900 up to today can be looked up, which covers every zodiac cycle in living memory.