What is My Chinese Zodiac Sign and Element? (Discover Zodiac Sign Element & Year Element)
“What is my Chinese zodiac sign and element?” Let’s cut to the chase and find out.
Rooted in thousands of years of Chinese culture, the zodiac is more than just an animal; it’s a key to understanding your core traits and how you connect with the world.
But here’s the essential detail everyone misses: you have a permanent zodiac element and a special year element.
Learn authentic Chinese from those who live and breathe the culture.
Specially tailored for kids aged 3-18 around the world!
Get started free!This article delivers your full astrological identity in one clear table. Plus, we’ll decode the concept of Chinese zodiac enemy signs. Let’s get started!

What is My Chinese Zodiac Sign and Element?
Your Chinese Zodiac sign is determined by your birth year, following the lunar calendar. Each year is associated with one of 12 animal signs and one of five core elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water), creating a 60-year cycle.
Additionally, there is a more precise “Na yin” (or Heavenly Stem/Earthly Branch) element. This is derived from the specific combination of the celestial stem and earthly branch of your birth year, offering deeper insight into your personality and destiny.
Chinese Zodiac and Your Na Yin Element (1970-2026)
For a quick reference, find your birth year in the table below to discover your zodiac animal, its core element, and its unique Nayin element.
Simply locate your birth year to find your complete zodiac profile:
| Year | Zodiac | Zodiac Sign Element | Na Yin Element (Year’s Element) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 🐕 Dog | Earth 🗻 | Metal ⚙️ (钗钏金 – Hairpin Gold) |
| 1971 | 🐖 Pig | Water 💧 | Metal ⚙️ (钗钏金 – Hairpin Gold) |
| 1972 | 🐁 Rat | Water 💧 | Wood 🌳 (桑柘木 – Mulberry Wood) |
| 1973 | 🐂 Ox | Earth 🗻 | Wood 🌳 (桑柘木 – Mulberry Wood) |
| 1974 | 🐅 Tiger | Wood 🌳 | Water 💧 (大溪水 – Great Stream Water) |
| 1975 | 🐇 Rabbit | Wood 🌳 | Water 💧 (大溪水 – Great Stream Water) |
| 1976 | 🐉 Dragon | Earth 🗻 | Earth 🗻 (沙中土 – Sand Earth) |
| 1977 | 🐍 Snake | Fire 🔥 | Earth 🗻 (沙中土 – Sand Earth) |
| 1978 | 🐎 Horse | Fire 🔥 | Fire 🔥 (天上火 – Heaven Fire) |
| 1979 | 🐑 Goat | Earth 🗻 | Fire 🔥 (天上火 – Heaven Fire) |
| 1980 | 🐒 Monkey | Metal ⚙️ | Wood 🌳 (石榴木 – Pomegranate Wood) |
| 1981 | 🐓 Rooster | Metal ⚙️ | Wood 🌳 (石榴木 – Pomegranate Wood) |
| 1982 | 🐕 Dog | Earth 🗻 | Water 💧 (大海水 – Sea Water) |
| 1983 | 🐖 Pig | Water 💧 | Water 💧 (大海水 – Sea Water) |
| 1984 | 🐁 Rat | Water 💧 | Metal ⚙️ (海中金 – Sea Gold) |
| 1985 | 🐂 Ox | Earth 🗻 | Metal ⚙️ (海中金 – Sea Gold) |
| 1986 | 🐅 Tiger | Wood 🌳 | Fire 🔥 (炉中火 – Furnace Fire) |
| 1987 | 🐇 Rabbit | Wood 🌳 | Fire 🔥 (炉中火 – Furnace Fire) |
| 1988 | 🐉 Dragon | Earth 🗻 | Wood 🌳 (大林木 – Forest Wood) |
| 1989 | 🐍 Snake | Fire 🔥 | Wood 🌳 (大林木 – Forest Wood) |
| 1990 | 🐎 Horse | Fire 🔥 | Earth 🗻 (路旁土 – Roadside Earth) |
| 1991 | 🐑 Goat | Earth 🗻 | Earth 🗻 (路旁土 – Roadside Earth) |
| 1992 | 🐒 Monkey | Metal ⚙️ | Metal ⚙️ (剑锋金 – Sword Edge Gold) |
| 1993 | 🐓 Rooster | Metal ⚙️ | Metal ⚙️ (剑锋金 – Sword Edge Gold) |
| 1994 | 🐕 Dog | Earth 🗻 | Fire 🔥 (山头火 – Mountain Top Fire) |
| 1995 | 🐖 Pig | Water 💧 | Fire 🔥 (山头火 – Mountain Top Fire) |
| 1996 | 🐁 Rat | Water 💧 | Water 💧 (涧下水 – Stream Water) |
| 1997 | 🐂 Ox | Earth 🗻 | Water 💧 (涧下水 – Stream Water) |
| 1998 | 🐅 Tiger | Wood 🌳 | Earth 🗻 (城头土 – City Wall Earth) |
| 1999 | 🐇 Rabbit | Wood 🌳 | Earth 🗻 (城头土 – City Wall Earth) |
| 2000 | 🐉 Dragon | Earth 🗻 | Metal ⚙️ (白腊金 – White Wax Gold) |
| 2001 | 🐍 Snake | Fire 🔥 | Metal ⚙️ (白腊金 – White Wax Gold) |
| 2002 | 🐎 Horse | Fire 🔥 | Wood 🌳 (杨柳木 – Willow Wood) |
| 2003 | 🐑 Goat | Earth 🗻 | Wood 🌳 (杨柳木 – Willow Wood) |
| 2004 | 🐒 Monkey | Metal ⚙️ | Water 💧 (泉中水 – Spring Water) |
| 2005 | 🐓 Rooster | Metal ⚙️ | Water 💧 (泉中水 – Spring Water) |
| 2006 | 🐕 Dog | Earth 🗻 | Earth 🗻 (屋上土 – Roof Earth) |
| 2007 | 🐖 Pig | Water 💧 | Earth 🗻 (屋上土 – Roof Earth) |
| 2008 | 🐁 Rat | Water 💧 | Fire 🔥 (霹雳火 – Thunderbolt Fire) |
| 2009 | 🐂 Ox | Earth 🗻 | Fire 🔥 (霹雳火 – Thunderbolt Fire) |
| 2010 | 🐅 Tiger | Wood 🌳 | Wood 🌳 (松柏木 – Pine & Cypress Wood) |
| 2011 | 🐇 Rabbit | Wood 🌳 | Wood 🌳 (松柏木 – Pine & Cypress Wood) |
| 2012 | 🐉 Dragon | Earth 🗻 | Water 💧 (长流水 – Flowing Water) |
| 2013 | 🐍 Snake | Fire 🔥 | Water 💧 (长流水 – Flowing Water) |
| 2014 | 🐎 Horse | Fire 🔥 | Metal ⚙️ (砂石金 – Sand & Stone Gold) |
| 2015 | 🐑 Goat | Earth 🗻 | Metal ⚙️ (砂石金 – Sand & Stone Gold) |
| 2016 | 🐒 Monkey | Metal ⚙️ | Fire 🔥 (山下火 – Mountain Bottom Fire) |
| 2017 | 🐓 Rooster | Metal ⚙️ | Fire 🔥 (山下火 – Mountain Bottom Fire) |
| 2018 | 🐕 Dog | Earth 🗻 | Wood 🌳 (平地木 – Flatland Wood) |
| 2019 | 🐖 Pig | Water 💧 | Wood 🌳 (平地木 – Flatland Wood) |
| 2020 | 🐁 Rat | Water 💧 | Earth 🗻 (壁上土 – Wall Earth) |
| 2021 | 🐂 Ox | Earth 🗻 | Earth 🗻 (壁上土 – Wall Earth) |
| 2022 | 🐅 Tiger | Wood 🌳 | Metal ⚙️ (金箔金 – Gold Foil) |
| 2023 | 🐇 Rabbit | Wood 🌳 | Metal ⚙️ (金箔金 – Gold Foil) |
| 2024 | 🐉 Dragon | Earth 🗻 | Fire 🔥 (佛灯火 – Temple Lamp Fire) |
| 2025 | 🐍 Snake | Fire 🔥 | Fire 🔥 (佛灯火 – Temple Lamp Fire) |
| 2026 | 🐎 Horse | Fire 🔥 | Water 💧 (天河水 – Heavenly River Water) |
How to Read this Zodiac and Element Table?
A quick guide to the columns:
- Year: Your Gregorian (standard) birth year.
- Zodiac: Your Chinese zodiac animal.
- Fixed Element: The permanent element of your animal. ✅ This is the main answer to “What is the element of the [Animal]?”
- Na Yin Element: The special “element name” of your specific birth year.
Why are There Na Yin Element and an Animal Element?

In Chinese tradition, your year of birth gives you two different “element” labels. They come from two separate systems:
Na Yin Element (Year’s Element):
This is the element of your specific birth year. It changes every two years. Think of it as the “flavor” or historical backdrop of the year you were born (e.g., 1990 was a “Roadside Earth” year).
Fixed Zodiac Element:
This is your animal’s permanent element. It never changes. Think of it as your animal’s basic nature (e.g., a Dog is always loyal and down-to-earth like Earth).
In short:
Na Yin Element = Your birth year’s special element tag. 1970 → ⚙️ Metal
Fixed Element = Your animal’s core element. 🐕 → 🗻 Earth
What Is My Chinese Zodiac Sign Compatible with?
Chinese Zodiac Best Compatibility Matches Chart
| Your Zodiac | Best Match (Six Harmony) | Core Reason | Excellent Matches (Three Harmony Trio) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🐁 Rat | 🐂 Ox | Perfect Union. The clever Rat provides ideas and social grace, while the steady Ox offers loyalty and practical execution. A balanced, supportive power couple. | 🐒 Monkey & 🐉 Dragon (The trio of “Water” – intellect and activity) |
| 🐂 Ox | 🐁 Rat | (See above) | 🐍 Snake & 🐓 Rooster (The trio of “Earth” – stability and dedication) |
| 🐅 Tiger | 🐖 Pig | Generous Support. The brave Tiger is fueled and adored by the generous Pig. The Pig enjoys the Tiger’s excitement and protective nature. | 🐎 Horse & 🐕 Dog (The trio of “Wood” – idealism and action) |
| 🐇 Rabbit | 🐕 Dog | Peaceful Sanctuary. Both value harmony, security, and loyalty. They create a calm, trusting, and deeply understanding home together. | 🐖 Pig & 🐑 Goat (The trio of “Wood” – creativity and compassion) |
| 🐉 Dragon | 🐓 Rooster | Mutual Admiration. The Dragon’s charisma is praised by the discerning Rooster, who in turn earns the Dragon’s respect with their competence. A dynamic, achieving pair. | 🐁 Rat & 🐒 Monkey (The trio of “Water” – intelligence and power) |
| 🐍 Snake | 🐒 Monkey | Intellectual Synergy. Both are incredibly clever and strategic. They challenge and admire each other’s minds, forming a powerful and cunning partnership. | 🐂 Ox & 🐓 Rooster (The trio of “Earth” – wisdom and planning) |
| 🐎 Horse | 🐑 Goat | Creative Nurturing. The energetic Horse inspires the artistic Goat, who provides the emotional tenderness and aesthetic the Horse needs. A romantic and supportive bond. | 🐅 Tiger & 🐕 Dog (The trio of “Wood” – freedom and adventure) |
| 🐑 Goat | 🐎 Horse | (See above) | 🐇 Rabbit & 🐖 Pig (The trio of “Wood” – art and empathy) |
| 🐒 Monkey | 🐍 Snake | (See above) | 🐁 Rat & 🐉 Dragon (The trio of “Water” – innovation and resourcefulness) |
| 🐓 Rooster | 🐉 Dragon | (See above) | 🐂 Ox & 🐍 Snake (The trio of “Earth” – discipline and refinement) |
| 🐕 Dog | 🐇 Rabbit | (See above) | 🐅 Tiger & 🐎 Horse (The trio of “Wood” – integrity and enthusiasm) |
| 🐖 Pig | 🐅 Tiger | (See above) | 🐇 Rabbit & 🐑 Goat (The trio of “Wood” – generosity and harmony) |
How to Read This Table & Key Concepts
- Six Harmony (六合): Your BEST match, often considered your “secret soulmate” or perfect complementary partner. It’s a one-to-one pairing.
- Three Harmony (三合): You share a profound, natural understanding with the other two signs in your trio. Relationships with them are smooth, supportive, and energizing. Think of them as your ideal friend group or business partners.
- Elements Matter: Each “Three Harmony” trio shares a supportive elemental affinity (noted in parentheses), which is the source of their deep connection.
- This is a Foundation: These are the most auspicious matches. A full compatibility analysis would also consider the “Enemy Signs” (Clashes), Birth Chart Elements, and the specific day and hour pillars of both individuals.
Simple Rule: For the highest potential of harmony, look for your Six Harmony partner or your Three Harmony trio mates!
Learn authentic Chinese from those who live and breathe the culture.
Specially tailored for kids aged 3-18 around the world!
Get started free!
Bella holds a Master’s degree from Yangzhou University and brings 10 years of extensive experience in K-12 Chinese language teaching and research. A published scholar, she has contributed over 10 papers to the field of language and literature. Currently, Bella leads the research and development of WuKong Chinese core courses, where she prioritizes academic rigor alongside student engagement and cognitive development. She is dedicated to building a robust foundation for young learners covering phonetics (Pinyin), characters, idioms, and classical culture while ensuring that advanced courses empower students with comprehensive linguistic mastery and cultural insight.
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