Chinese Zodiac Years and the 12-Year Cycle
The Chinese zodiac runs on cycles — a twelve-year animal cycle layered with a five-element cycle. Understanding them explains your sign and your special 'zodiac year.'
The 12-year animal cycle
The twelve animals repeat every twelve years, so people born twelve years apart share an animal — a quick way to estimate someone's age politely.
The 60-year cycle
Combine the twelve animals with the five elements and you get a 60-year cycle, after which the exact animal-element pairing repeats.
Your zodiac year (Ben Ming Nian)
The year your animal comes around — every twelfth year — is your Ben Ming Nian, traditionally seen as a year to be careful, often marked by wearing red.
Find your animal and year
Use our Chinese zodiac tool to find your animal and know when your zodiac year returns.