About this tool
Chinese Zodiac Calculator is a free, in-browser tool that finds your Chinese zodiac sign from your birth year: the animal, its associated five-element phase, its yin or yang polarity, and a short line of traditional traits. Type a year and it computes instantly on your device with nothing uploaded.
The animal follows a 12-year cycle from the year: its index is ((year − 4) mod 12), running Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig. The element cycles every ten years — the index is floor(((year − 4) mod 10) ÷ 2) over Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water — and the polarity is Yang for even years and Yin for odd years.
One important caveat: the traditional Chinese zodiac follows the lunar calendar, whose new year falls in late January or February. If you were born in January or early February, you may actually belong to the previous year's animal. This tool uses the Gregorian year, and it is provided for entertainment and cultural interest.
Frequently asked questions
How is the zodiac animal determined?
Each year maps to one of twelve animals on a repeating 12-year cycle. The tool computes ((year − 4) mod 12) to pick the animal, so 2020 is the Rat, 2021 the Ox, and so on.
Why might my animal be the previous year's sign?
The Chinese zodiac follows the lunar calendar, and lunar new year falls between about 21 January and 20 February. If you were born before that year's lunar new year, your true sign is the previous year's animal. This calculator uses the Gregorian year, so check the lunar new year date for January and early-February birthdays.
What are the elements and yin/yang?
Beyond the animal, each year carries one of five elements — Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water — on a ten-year cycle, and a polarity of yin (odd years) or yang (even years). Together these give the fuller sign, like a Yang Metal Rat.
Is this a serious prediction?
No. It is offered for entertainment and cultural interest, not as a forecast or advice. The traits shown are traditional generalizations. Everything is computed locally in your browser and your birth year is never uploaded.
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