In China, every person has an animal that guards the year they were born, this is your生肖 (shēngxiào) , or Chinese zodiac sign. 2026 is the Year of the Horse. Do you know which animal is yours?
The Story of the Chinese Zodiac
A long, long time ago, the Jade Emperor decided to choose twelve animals to represent the zodiac. He held a river race, the first twelve animals to reach the finish line would be selected.
The Rat woke up the earliest, but couldn’t swim. So it woke up the Ox and asked to ride across the river on its back. Just as they were about to reach the shore, the Rat had a clever idea, it jumped off the Ox’s back and dashed to the finish line first.
That’s why the Rat is first, and the Ox is second.
鼠 | Shǔ | Rat
Chengyu (idiom) about Rats:
胆小如鼠 (dǎn xiǎo rú shǔ) – literally “as timid as a mouse”; used to describe someone who is very fearful or cowardly.
牛 | Niú | Ox
Everyday Conversation:
“你属什么？” (Nǐ shǔ shénme?) — “What’s your zodiac sign?”
“我属牛。” (Wǒ shǔ niú.) — “I’m an Ox.”
Chengyu (idiom) about Oxen:
九牛一毛 (jiǔ niú yī máo) – literally “one hair from nine oxen”; used to describe a very small or insignificant part of something much larger.
What’s Your Zodiac? Find It Here
| Zodiac | Years |
| Rat | 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020, 2032 |
| Ox | 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021, 2033 |
Note: The Chinese zodiac is based on the lunar calendar. If you were born in January or early February, you may want to search online for “zodiac calculator” to double-check your sign.
