Happy Chinese New Year, everyone! It is my year, the year of the Sheep/Ram/Goat. I want to share all the animals of the Chinese Zodiac with you!

The Chinese Zodiac is all the 12 signs of the Chinese New Year. In order, the 12 animals are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.

Though most people are happy when their year comes around, the Chinese believe it means you’ll have bad luck. The Chinese also believe ways to prevent this bad luck are to wear a red object given to you by an elder, wearing jade accessories, or to pray a lot.

 Here are the characteristics and years of the 12 animals:

The Chinese New Year of the Rat

Strengths: Rats are resourceful, versatile, and have rich imaginations and sharp minds. Rats can take advantage of many opportunities opportunities in a skillful way, since they easily adapt themselves to new environments and have quick minds. Women and girls belonging to the Rat family are beautiful, smart, lovely, and clean.

Weaknesses: Rats are mostly shy and timid, and because lack of concentration, courage, and stability, they are not very good leaders. Once a Rat has made a decision, it refuses to be influenced, and is occasionally selfish.

Careers: Musician, writer, entrepreneur, director, manager, administrator, lawyer, researcher.

Rat years: 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020

The Chinese New Year of the Ox

Strengths: Oxen are known for diligence, dependability, strength, patience, honesty, and determination. They are consistent and persistent, and always have a detailed plan and action steps. Women are traditional, faithful wives, who attach great importance and care to their children’s education.

Weaknesses: They are not good at communicating with others, and usually are silent. Oxen are stubborn and stick to their own ways.

Careers: Real estate, manufacturing, pharmacy, mechanics, and engineering. 

Years of The Ox: 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021

The Chinese New Year of the Tiger

Strengths: Tigers are hard working and confident, and they boldly express their opinions. They are great leaders and influencers, very brave and competitive. Tigers are also charming, well-liked, and loyal. Most women under the tiger sign are intelligent, faithful and virtuous.

Weaknesses: Tigers are stubborn and don’t like to obey others. They don’t make preparations for most things, either, and are constant show-offs.

Careers: Tigers are suited to careers such as advertising agent, office manager, travel agent, actor, writer, artist, pilot, flight attendant, musician, comedian, and chauffeur.

Years of The Tiger: 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022

 The Chinese New Year of the Rabbit

Strengths: Rabbits are gentle, alert, skillful, elegant, patient, and responsible. They have good memory, work with efficiency and speed, and hate arguing. Men and boys who are Rabbits always treat people politely. They can solve problems easily and are persistently looking for solutions. Ladies and girls are pretty, faithful to those around them, and have a pure heart.

Weaknesses: Rabbits are undetermined, stubborn, and like to escape reality. They also tend to waste money on bad ideas. Rabbits are overly cautious and conservative, resulting in a loss of many good opportunities.

Careers: The best careers for Rabbits are cultivation, breeding, education, religion, health care, medicine, culture, police/judiciary work, and politics.

Years of The Rabbit: 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023

Our cousin, Karinee, was born in the year of the Rabbit, and she perfectly matches the description!

The Chinese New Year of the Dragon

Strengths: The Dragon is the most powerful and strong animal of the Chinese Zodiac. It is gifted with courage, intelligence, confidence, and enthusiasm. Dragons are often leaders and strive for perfection. They also are energetic and excitable. They hate hypocrisy, gossip, or slander.

Weaknesses: Dragons can be a little arrogant, impatient, and moody. They are fiery, intolerant, and feel blank about the future. They often criticize others for inefficiency at work. Dragon women are over-confident. Dragons also possess a sharp tongue.

Careers: Some good careers for Dragons include: journalist, teacher, inventor, manager, computer analyst, lawyer, engineer, architect, broker, and sales person.

Years of the Dragon: 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024

The Chinese New Year of the Snake

Strengths: Snakes are determined to accomplish goals and hate to fail. They are intuitive, good communicators, and wise. Snakes are secure financially, and don’t have to worry about money. They are intense, passionate, and sympathetic to others. Snake women tend to do well in housework.

Weaknesses: Snakes are materialistic and love having the best of everything. They are timid and shy sometimes, and they are also easily stressed. Snakes are likely to be jealous, suspicious, and headstrong.

Careers: Good career choices for Snakes include: scientist, analyst, investigator, painter, potter, jeweler, astrologer, magician, dietician, and sociologist.

Years of The Horse: 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025

The Chinese New Year of the Horse

Strengths: Horses are warm hearted, humorous, and easy going. They are independent and enduring. Horses are animated and energetic, and love to be in a crowd. Their positive attitude leads everything to a bright direction.

Weaknesses: Horses love spending money, and they are very frank. They are not good are concealing information and/or keeping secrets. They lack persistence and confidence, and Horses are sometimes a little self centered.

Careers: Good career choices for Horses include: publicist, sales representative, journalist, language instructor, translator, performer, tour operator, librarian or pilot.

Years of The Horse: 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026

My grandpa, Papa Milciades, is a Horse. He is very humorous and full of energy.

The Chinese New Year of the Sheep/Ram/Goat

Strengths: Sheep are gentle, softhearted, considerate, and attractive. They are also hardworking, wise, clever, and persistent. They have a sensitivity to art and beauty, and are fond of quiet living. Sheep take good care of others and are economical.

Weaknesses: Sheep are indecisive, timid, vain, and pessimistic. They are sometimes moody and weak-willed.

Careers: Good career choices for goats are pediatrician, actor, daycare teacher, interior designer, florist, hair stylist, musician, editor, illustrator, artist, and art history teacher.

Years of The Goat: 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027

My Tio (uncle) Eleyrin is a gentle, quiet sheep.

The Chinese New Year of the Monkey

Strengths: Monkeys are witty, intelligent, curious, and clever. They love jokes and pranks. Monkeys are crafty, social, innovative, talented problem solvers, and fast learners.

Weaknesses: Monkeys are impatient, jealous, suspicious, arrogant, cunning, and sly. They also look down on others constantly.

Careers: Good career choices for monkeys are accounting and banking, science, engineering, stock market trading, air traffic control, film directing, jewelry, and salesmanship.

Years of the Monkey: 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, and 2028.

The Chinese New Year of the Rooster

Strengths: Roosters are observant, hardworking, ambitious, resourceful, courageous, and talented. They are very confident in themselves, and are always active. Roosters are talkative, open, honest, and loyal personages.

Weaknesses: Roosters like to be the center of attention and the spotlight. They expect and like others to listen to them and and have all eyes on them while they speak. If they don’t, they become agitated. Roosters are also outspoken, frank, vain, and boastful, and they like to brag about themselves and their accomplishments. Roosters are very sensitive and moody. They probably refuse suggestions but would like to lecture others, are critical, and think they are always right.

Careers: Good career choices for Roosters are a newsreader, sales person, restaurant owner, hairdresser, public relations officer, farmer, athlete, teacher, waiter, journalist, travel writer, dentist, surgeon, soldier, fireman, security guard, and police officer.

Years of the Rooster: 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, and 2029.

My Tia (aunt) Elaury was born in the year of the Rooster. She is very talkative and confident.

The Chinese New Year of the Dog

Strengths: Dogs are faithful, courageous, smart, and dexterous. They know how to keep secrets and inspire others. Dogs make good leaders. They’re loyal, honest, and kind. Dogs are always ready to help other people.

Weaknesses: Dogs can be cold emotionally sometimes, and are often pessimistic and have a sharp tongue. They are not good at communication at all, and Dog women tend to be unstable.

Careers: Recommended careers for Dogs include police officer, scientist, counselor, interior designer, professor, politician, priest, nurse, clerk, and judge.

Years of the Dog: 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030

The Chinese New Year of the Pig

Strengths: Pigs are diligent, compassionate, and generous. They are also very concentrated and are very generous and helpful. They handle problems properly, calmly, and carefully. Pigs are lighthearted and sincere and kind friends.

Weaknesses: Pigs are easily fooled and tricked. They are hot tempered, and are not good at communication.

Careers: Good jobs for Pigs could be entertainers, caterers, doctors, veterinarians, and interior decorators. Promising career fields include transportation, entertainment, retail and hospitality.

Years of the Pig: 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031

My dad is a perfect pig! He is a hearing specialist and a website designer.

A cool fun fact about my family is that all the girls come right after each other in the zodiac: Dragon (mom), Snake (baby sister), Horse (older sister), and Goat (me)!

I really enjoyed learning about the Chinese Zodiac, and I hope you did, too. Thank you for reading! Happy Chinese New Year!

 [elyssa]