Chinese zodiac calculator

Type a birth year. The calculator maps it to an animal, an element, and yin or yang. 1990 is Horse, Fire, and Yang. 1984 is Rat, Metal, and Yang. 1977 is Snake, Water, and Yin. A Gregorian-year shortcut, not a strict lunar calendar.

Gregorian year modulo 12, entertainment and tradition, not a reading. Tropical: zodiac sign. Stone: birthstone. Article: Chinese zodiac.

Input

Result

Enter a birth year to see the Chinese zodiac.

How it works

The popular Chinese zodiac maps a year to one of 12 animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig. The index is (year − 4) mod 12, zero is Rat. 1984 is Rat, 1990 Horse, 2000 Dragon.

The full row adds element and yin/yang. Element: the integer part of (((year − 4) mod 10) / 2) on Metal, Water, Wood, Fire, Earth. Even offset is Yang, odd is Yin. 1990 is Horse · Fire · Yang. 1977 is Snake · Water · Yin. 2000 is Dragon · Fire · Yang. 2024 is Dragon · Metal · Yang. 2008 is Rat · Wood · Yang.

The animal of the Chinese calendar year. Do not mix it with a month birthstone. The traditional Chinese year starts at a new moon around January or February. Someone born in January or early February may belong to the previous animal in a strict reading. Here we keep the civil year so you can repeat the result on paper.

One field: year from 1 to 9999. Click Calculate. Day and clock time do not enter. 0.199 from a trap example is not a birth year: the calculator needs a full year.

The 60-year cycle (12 animals times 10 element years) is cultural background. This calculator shows one year, not the whole sexagenary.

Treat the result as a birth-year label. Do not read it as a fortune, a character grade, or a year’s instructions.

Formula

animal = ((year − 4) mod 12) on the 12-animal list (0 = Rat).

element = the integer part of (((year − 4) mod 10) / 2) on Metal, Water, Wood, Fire, Earth. Yin/yang: even offset → Yang, odd → Yin.

How to use

  1. Type the birth year, for example 1990. Range 1-9999, no day or month.
  2. Click Calculate. The result is animal, element, and yin or yang.
  3. Check 1990: Horse, Fire, Yang. 1984: Rat, Metal, Yang.
  4. If the birthday falls in January or February, read the lunar New Year note. Here the Gregorian year counts.
  5. Compare the tropical sign from day and month and the birthstone from the month number.

An animal from the year: (year−4) mod 12

1990 is Horse, Fire, and Yang. The formula is (year−4) mod 12, not a lunar new year and not a science forecast.

Horse
The 1990 animal. 1984 is Rat, 1977 is Snake. The field is the year alone; the birthday does not change the animal.
Fire
The 1990 element, plus Yang. Metal in 1984, Water in 1977. A year table, not a reading.

Suggested uses

  • Quick year-to-animal mapping in the 12-year cycle.
  • Learn elements and yin/yang with concrete years.
  • Compare birth years in a family or class for fun.
  • Start a set: Chinese animal + tropical sign + birthstone.
  • Check that a hand mod-12 formula matches the tool.
  • Draft a short note on the sexagenary cycle (entertainment).

Examples

Example 1

  • Year: 1984

Rat · Metal · Yang

Chinese zodiac for 1984? Rat, Metal, Yang.

Example 2

  • Year: 1990

Horse · Fire · Yang

Chinese zodiac for 1990? Horse, Fire, Yang.

Example 3

  • Year: 2000

Dragon · Fire · Yang

Chinese zodiac for 2000? Dragon, Fire, Yang.

Example 4

  • Year: 1977

Snake · Water · Yin

1977 → Snake, Water, Yin.

Example 5

  • Year: 2008

Rat · Wood · Yang

2008 → Rat, Wood, Yang.

Example 6

  • Year: 2024

Dragon · Metal · Yang

2024 → Dragon, Metal, Yang.

Related calculators

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Biorhythms

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Frequently asked questions

What does 1990 give?

Horse, Fire, and Yang. (1990−4) mod 12 = 6, Fire element, even offset.

What about 1984 and 1977?

1984 is Rat, Metal, and Yang. 1977 is Snake, Water, and Yin. Both use (year−4) mod 12.

Are 2000 and 2024 the same Dragon?

Same animal. Different element: 2000 is Fire, 2024 is Metal. Both Yang.

Is this a scientific forecast?

No. It is mod 12 and 10 on a Gregorian year. Not an ephemeris and not a horoscope.

Why might January belong to the previous animal?

A strict Chinese New Year starts at a new moon around January or February. Here we take the civil year.

Does the birthday change the animal?

Not in this calculator. The field is the Gregorian year alone, not a lunar New Year date.

How do I check 2008 by hand?

(2008−4) mod 12 = 0, Rat. (2008−4) mod 10 = 4, the integer part of (4/2) = 2, Wood, Yang.

Is this the tropical sign?

No. Tropical uses day and month. Here the year and a 12-animal cycle.

What about year 4 CE?

That is the reference year: (4−4) mod 12 = 0, Rat. The list starts there.

Is a blank field year 0 and Rat?

No. Without a year there is no animal. Type a full year, for example 1990.

Knowledge sources

The calculator reads a date or a tradition table. This is not fortune-telling, not an astrologer’s chart and not a diagnosis.

Page updated in 2026.