Chinese Zodiac Finder
Instantly find the Chinese zodiac animal (Rat, Ox, Tiger...) for any Gregorian year, with a 12-year table around it — handy for New Year cards and trivia.
Zodiac animal
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Zodiac years nearby
| Year | Animal |
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The traditional calendar switches animals at Risshun (around February 4). This tool converts on a January 1 basis.
How to use
- 1
Enter a year
Type the Gregorian year you want to look up.
- 2
See the zodiac animal
The animal for that year appears instantly.
- 3
Browse the 12-year table
A table around your year shows the animals for family and friends at a glance.
Features
- Instant zodiac animal from any Gregorian year
- A 12-year table to check the whole family at once
- Japanese and English animal names included
- Everything computed in your browser; nothing is transmitted
Use cases
New Year card preparation
Check the animal for next year to pick card designs and messages.
The whole family at once
Look up the animals of everyone in one table, even across generations.
Historical references
Find the zodiac animal for a year mentioned in a book or article.
Details
The Chinese zodiac cycles through twelve animals — Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Boar — and the animal for a Gregorian year is found by taking the year modulo 12. For example, 2024 is the Year of the Dragon, 2025 the Snake and 2026 the Horse. You can look up family birthdays in seconds.
One subtlety: in the traditional calendar, the animal changes at Risshun (around February 4), not on January 1. Modern usage such as New Year cards follows January 1, which is what this tool uses — but for people born in January or early February, the traditional rule can give a different animal.
The zodiac is deeply tied to Japanese year-end customs, from New Year card designs to zodiac charms. Because the cycle repeats every 12 years, your own animal comes around every twelve years. The 12-year table makes it easy to check the animals for your whole family at once.
FAQ
When does the zodiac animal change?
Modern usage switches on January 1. The traditional calendar switches at Risshun (around February 4), so people born in January or early February may belong to the previous animal under that rule.
What animal is 2026?
The Horse. The cycle repeats every 12 years, so both 2014 and 2026 are Horse years.
How do I find my own animal?
Just enter your birth year. The same animal comes around every 12 years.
Is the year I enter sent anywhere?
No. All computation happens locally in your browser and nothing you enter is transmitted.
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All processing happens in your browser. Your files are never uploaded.
Verified: Known years, the 12-year cycle, the table and error states are covered by browser tests
Did you know?
The zodiac cycle repeats every 12 years — knowing the animal narrows the birth year to a dozen candidates.