What are Chinese Animal signs ?
Also known as Sheng Xiao, meaning “born resembling”, the signs represent twelve animals that the Chinese associate with each year (on a rolling basis, repeating every twelve years).
Depending on your date of birth, you will have a specific animal sign for the year in which you were born. It is said that people born under each animal sign display the attributes of the animal that they are born under, (similar to the zodiac, which identifies certain characteristics for each of the twelve zodiac signs, but on a monthly basis rather than yearly.)
So which Chinese animal sign are you and what does that mean? Let’s find out! Listed below are the twelve signs, the years they relate to, their meaning, characteristics, traits and elements.
Rat
If you were born in years – 2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960, 1948, 1936.
Meaning – wise
Positive Characteristics – intelligent, sociable, adaptable & generous
Negative Traits – trivial, aggressive & dishonest
Element – Water
Ox
If you were born in years – 2009, 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961,1949, 1937.
Meaning – industrious
Positive Characteristics – leader, inspiring, honest, strong & carefree.
Negative Traits – futile, stubborn.
Element – Earth
Tiger
If you were born in years – 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962, 1950, 1938.
Meaning – valour
Positive Characteristics – brave, charming, sensitive, courageous & ambitious
Negative Traits – reckless, aggressive, unpredictable
Element – Wood
Rabbit
If you were born in years – 2011, 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963, 1951, 1939.
Meaning – caution
Positive Characteristics – friendly, conscientious, trustworthy & sincere
Negative Traits – cowardly, emotional & superficial
Element – Wood
Dragon
If you were born in years – 2012, 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964, 1952, 1940.
Meaning – strong
Positive Characteristics – spiritual, artistic, imaginative, popular & successful
Negative Traits – inflexible, domineering, capricious
Element – Earth
Snake
If you were born in years – 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965, 1953, 1941, 1929.
Meaning – flexible
Positive Characteristics – witty, romantic, compassionate, intelligent & intuitive
Negative Traits – compromising, vain & thrifty
Element – Fire
Horse
If you were born in years – 2014, 2002, 1990, 1978,1966, 1954, 1942, 1930.
Meaning – forge on
Positive Characteristics – strong, intelligent, ambitious, courageous & friendly
Negative Traits – abandoning, impatient, egotistic
Element – Fire
Goat
If you were born in years – 2015, 2003, 1991, 1979, 1967, 1955, 1943, 1931.
Meaning – unified
Positive Characteristics – charming, honest, creative, intuitive & calm
Negative Traits – stagnation, pessimism, shyness, fragility
Element – Earth
Monkey
If you were born in years – 2016, 2004, 1992, 1980, 1968, 1956, 1944, 1932.
Meaning – changeable
Positive Characteristics – resourceful, entertaining, magnetic & intelligent
Negative Traits – foolish, unpredictable, unreliable
Element – Metal
Rooster
If you were born in years – 2017, 2005, 1993, 1981,1969, 1957, 1945, 1933.
Meaning – constant
Positive Characteristics – smart, hard working, courageous, confident & energetic
Negative Traits – inflexible, eccentric & egotistic
Element – Metal
Dog
If you were born in years – 2018, 2006, 1994, 1982, 1970, 1958, 1946, 1934.
Meaning – loyal
Positive Characteristics – sociable, adaptable, smart, honest & generous
Negative Traits – rejecting, cynical, anxious
Element – Earth
Pig
If you were born in years – 2019, 2007, 1995, 1983, 1971, 1959, 1947, 1935.
Meaning – friendly
Positive Characteristics – affectionate, shy, kind, optimistic & sincere
Negative Traits – immoral, intolerant & naïve
Element – Water