A Complete Guide to the 12 Chinese Zodiac Signs, from Personality to Compatibility

Mar. 15, 2025

Chinese Zodiac Wheel.

Chinese astrology — also known as Shu Xiang — dates back more than 2,000 years.

Since the Chinese calendar is based on the lunisolar calendar, theLunar New Yearis typically celebrated on the secondnew moonafter thewinter solstice. In 2025, theYear of the Wood Snakekicked off on Jan. 29.

Chinese astrology and Feng Shui expertVicki Iskandartells PEOPLE that “each of these 60 pillars contains unique qualities and characteristics that can provide us with insights into a particular year.”

Here is everything to know about Chinese astrology, according to Iskandar.

How does Chinese astrology differ from Western astrology?

Chinese Zodiac Snake.

“Seasonal celebrations and festivals such as the Lunar New Year follow the lunar calendar,” says Iskandar, who’s also the author ofThe Chinese Five Elements Oracle. “The date is determined each year based on when the moon turns new in China, which falls one day after the new moon rises in the United States.”

“For example, babies born between Feb. 4, 2024, and Feb. 3, 2025, will have the Wood Dragon as the animal sign of their birth year,” says Iskandar. “Since the astrological year starts on Feb. 4 each year, those born between Jan. 1 to Feb. 3 will still have the previous year’s animal sign as their zodiac sign.”

How do you find your Chinese zodiac sign?

“So a person born in the year of the Rabbit [last year’s sign] will always have the Rabbit as their zodiac sign,” Iskandar says.

What are the Chinese zodiac animals and their characteristics?

In the Chinese zodiac, each animal can represent traits that best describe a person born under that sign. According toChinesehighlights.com, these are traits that each animal sign is best known for:

What are the Chinese zodiac elements and their characteristics?

Chinese astrology follows the Five Chinese Element theory, which consists of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. Each person is assigned an element that is typically determined based on their animal sign, so if your Chinese zodiac sign is the Rat, then your element is Water.

Each year is also assigned a specific element based on the last number of your birth year. So for example, the element associated with 2025 is Wood, since the year ends in the number 5.

Like your animal, each element also represents specific characteristics of a person. According to Iskandar, the characteristics for the elements are as follows:

Which Chinese zodiac signs are the most compatible?

In Chinese astrology, compatibility looks into which animal signs are considered the “secret friends, allies” and the signs are least compatible with their “opposing” signs.

According to astrologer Lisa Stardust, the signs most compatible with each other are as follows.

Which Chinese zodiac signs are the least compatible?

According to Stardust, these are the least compatible Chinese zodiac signs:

source: people.com