Animal
The twelve-year cycle: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig.
Chinese Zodiac Years Chart
Use this chart to look up a birth year, animal sign, and element from 1924 to 2031. If you were born near Lunar New Year in January or February, use the calculator before treating the chart result as final.
Quick answer
Chinese zodiac years chart: animal plus element
A Chinese zodiac years chart shows the animal sign for each Gregorian year, but the traditional reading also includes the Five Element of that year. The animal gives the familiar doorway; the element adds tone. Together they help explain why two people with the same animal sign can express it differently across different birth years.
Element
Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, or Water adds a second layer to the year’s expression.
Boundary
Lunar New Year decides when the zodiac year actually changes.
How to read the chart without making the common mistake
The common mistake is treating the Gregorian year as if the zodiac sign changes on January 1. Chinese zodiac years follow the lunar calendar. For most birthdays, the year row is enough for quick lookup. For January and early February birthdays, the calculator is the safer path because Lunar New Year may not have arrived yet.
Born in 1990
Most 1990 birthdays fall in the Year of the Horse, but dates before Lunar New Year should be checked before assuming the sign.
Born in 2026
2026 is listed as Horse, but the Horse year begins on February 17, 2026. Earlier dates still follow the previous lunar year.
Searching Chinese years
Use the table for lookup, then open the animal page for meaning, compatibility, lucky cues, and yearly guidance.
Choose the next page based on your question
From chart to personal reading
A chart gives the sign. MingSez adds timing: Five Elements, daily direction, color, number, and one small action that helps you adjust the day instead of treating the year as a fixed sentence.
Chinese zodiac years chart FAQ
How do I use a Chinese zodiac years chart?
Find the Gregorian birth year in the chart, then read the animal sign and element for that row. If the birthday is in January or early February, check the Lunar New Year boundary before treating the sign as final.
Why does the chart show elements as well as animals?
Chinese zodiac years are not only animal years. Each year also carries one of the Five Elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, or Water. The element changes how the animal sign is expressed.
What is the difference between Chinese zodiac years and Chinese horoscope years?
Chinese zodiac years usually means the animal-year lookup. Chinese horoscope years often means interpretation: personality, compatibility, annual guidance, lucky cues, and timing.
What if I was born before Lunar New Year?
If your birthday falls before Lunar New Year, your zodiac sign may belong to the previous row in the cycle. Use a birth-date calculator for January and February birthdays.
Does the year chart give my whole Chinese astrology chart?
No. The chart gives the year doorway. A deeper reading also considers month, day, hour, stems, branches, Five Elements, and current timing.
Reveal My Reading
Enter your birth date to see today's personal life pattern reading: zodiac, year pillar, element relationship, focus guidance, and one small action.