How to use
- Pick or type your date of birth.
- Read your star sign, your Chinese zodiac animal and the Chinese calendar year.
- Below are the date ranges of all twelve star signs and the years of each Chinese zodiac animal.
Options explained
- Chinese zodiac
- Follows the Chinese lunar year, which begins at Chinese New Year. Someone born on 20 January 2025 is still a Dragon; the Snake year began on 29 January.
- Lichun
- Chinese astrology often starts the year at Lichun (around 4 February). This can differ from the New Year answer for people born between the two dates.
- Star sign
- Based on the sun's position in the zodiac. Dates at the boundary between signs can vary by a day between sources.
Chinese New Year and Lichun dates
The Chinese zodiac animal follows a 12-year cycle: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig. 1900 was a Rat year, so the animal of a Chinese year is the remainder of (year − 1900) ÷ 12, counting from Rat as 0. Which year you belong to depends on whether you were born before Chinese New Year:
| Year | Chinese New Year | Lichun | Animal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 25 Jan | 4 Feb | Rat |
| 2021 | 12 Feb | 3 Feb | Ox |
| 2022 | 1 Feb | 4 Feb | Tiger |
| 2023 | 22 Jan | 4 Feb | Rabbit |
| 2024 | 10 Feb | 4 Feb | Dragon |
| 2025 | 29 Jan | 3 Feb | Snake |
| 2026 | 17 Feb | 4 Feb | Horse |
| 2027 | 6 Feb | 4 Feb | Goat |
| 2028 | 26 Jan | 4 Feb | Monkey |
Someone born on 3 Feb 2021 is still a Rat by Chinese New Year, but an Ox if the year is counted from Lichun, which is when the note about the Lichun answer appears. The calculator accepts birthdays from 1901 to 2099.
Frequently asked questions
What is my Chinese zodiac if I was born in January or February?
Check whether you were born before that year's Chinese New Year. If so, you belong to the previous year's animal — someone born on 1 February 2024 is a Rabbit, because New Year fell on 10 February.
Why do some sources give a different Chinese zodiac?
Usually because they count the year from Lichun rather than Chinese New Year. This tool uses New Year and also shows the Lichun result when the two differ.
Why do star sign dates vary between sources?
The moment the sun enters each sign shifts slightly from year to year, and common tables round it to a fixed date, so the boundary can be a day earlier or later.
Privacy
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