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Chinese zodiac signs, also known as Shengxiao in Chinese, is a scheme, which uses Twelve Earthly Branches and 12 animals to symbolize the year when a person is born. The cycle of the Chinese zodiac signs is every 12 years. Zodiac is prevalent among many countries in Asia, Eastern Europe, North Africa and so on.

The zodiac traditionally begins with the sign of the Rat. The twelve zodiac signs are Rat, Ox，Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snack, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Chicken, Rooster, Dog And Pig, each of which has its matching earth branch and character. In Chinese astrology, the animal signs assigned by year represent what others perceive you as being or how you present yourself.

Besides presenting oneself, the zodiac signs also have another function, that is, deducing a person's age from the sign of the person. Know the current sign of the year and then a person's perceived age would be deduced. For example, if it is the year of ox in 2011, then persons of ox is either 12, 24, 36 or 48 years old in 2011, while persons of rabbit zodiac are two years younger than those Oxen accordingly in 2011.

Chinese Zodiac years of birth are also called Chinese Zodiac animal years, better known as Ben Ming Nian in Chinese, in which people usually wear something red like to avoid bad luck during this year, such as socks, a ribbon, clothes, underwear, a waistband or a bracelet and the likes.

1.Rat – 鼠 (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Water)

Forthright, tenacious, intense, meticulous, charismatic, sensitive, hardworking, industrious, charming, eloquent, sociable, artistic, shrewd. Can be manipulative, vindictive, self-destructive, mendacious, venal, obstinate, critical, over-ambitious, ruthless, intolerant, scheming.

2.Ox – 牛 (Water buffalo in Vietnam) (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Water)

Dependable, ambitious, calm, methodical, born leader, patient, hardworking, conventional, steady, modest, logical, resolute, tenacious. Can be stubborn, narrow-minded, materialistic, rigid, demanding.

3.Tiger – 虎 (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Wood)

Unpredictable, rebellious, colorful, powerful, passionate, daring, impulsive, vigorous, stimulating, sincere, affectionate, humanitarian, generous. Can be restless, reckless, impatient, quick-tempered, obstinate, selfish, aggressive, moody.

4.Rabbit – 兔 (Cat in Vietnam) (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Wood)

Gracious, good friend, kind, sensitive, soft-spoken, amiable, elegant, reserved, cautious, artistic, thorough, tender, self-assured, shy, astute, compassionate,lucky, flexible. Can be moody, detached, superficial, self-indulgent, opportunistic, stubborn.

5.Dragon – 龍 (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Wood)

Magnanimous, stately, vigorous, strong, self-assured, proud, noble, direct, dignified, jealous, eccentric, intellectual, fiery, passionate, decisive, pioneering, artistic, generous, loyal. Can be tactless, arrogant, imperious, tyrannical, demanding, intolerant, dogmatic, violent, impetuous, brash.

6.Snake – 蛇 (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Fire)

Deep thinker, wise, mystic, graceful, soft-spoken, sensual, creative, prudent, shrewd, elegant, cautious, responsible, calm, strong, constant, purposeful. Can be loner, bad communicator, possessive, hedonistic, self-doubting, distrustful, mendacious, suffocating, cold.

7.Horse – 馬 (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Fire)

Cheerful, popular, quick-witted, changeable, earthy, perceptive, talkative, agile—mentally and physically, magnetic, intelligent, astute, flexible, open-minded. Can be fickle, arrogant, childish, anxious, rude, gullible, stubborn.

8.Sheep, Goat, or Ram – 羊 (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Fire)

Righteous, sincere, sympathetic, mild-mannered, shy, artistic, creative, gentle, compassionate, understanding, mothering, determined, peaceful, generous, seeks security. Can be moody, indecisive, over-passive, worrier, pessimistic, over-sensitive, complainer, weak-willed.

9.Monkey – 猴 (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Metal)

Inventor, motivator, improviser, quick-witted, inquisitive, flexible, innovative, problem solver, self-assured, sociable, artistic, polite, dignified, competitive, objective, factual, intellectual. Can be egotistical, vain, selfish, reckless, snobbish, deceptive, manipulative, cunning, jealous, suspicious.

10.Rooster – 雞 (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Metal)

Acute, neat, meticulous, organized, self-assured, decisive, conservative, critical, perfectionist, alert, zealous, practical, scientific, responsible. Can be over zealous and critical, puritanical, egotistical, abrasive, opinionated, given to empty bravado.

11.Dog – 狗 (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Metal)

Honest, intelligent, straightforward, loyal, sense of justice and fair play, attractive, amicable, unpretentious, sociable, open-minded, idealistic, moralistic, practical, affectionate, sensitive, easy going. Can be cynical, lazy, cold, judgmental, pessimistic, worrier, stubborn, quarrelsome.

12.Pig – 猪 (Wild boar in Japan and Elephant in Northern Thailand) (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Water)

Honest, gallant, sturdy, sociable, peace-loving, patient, loyal, hard-working, trusting, sincere, calm, understanding, thoughtful, scrupulous, passionate, intelligent.
Can be naïve, over-reliant, self-indulgent, gullible, fatalistic, materialistic.

Find Your Animal Year!