How to find your Chinese zodiac sign
The Chinese zodiac runs in a cycle of twelve animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. Each year has one animal, and the cycle repeats every twelve years.
1. Use the table
Our Find your sign page lists every sign with its birth years. Find your year, read across, and that is your animal.
2. Use the quick sum
Take your birth year, subtract 4, and divide by 12. The remainder tells you the sign: 0 is Rat, 1 is Ox, 2 is Tiger, 3 is Rabbit, 4 is Dragon, 5 is Snake, 6 is Horse, 7 is Goat, 8 is Monkey, 9 is Rooster, 10 is Dog and 11 is Pig. For 1994: 1990 divided by 12 leaves 10, so it is a Dog.
3. Mind the Lunar New Year
This is the one that catches people out. The zodiac year begins at Lunar New Year, which falls between late January and mid February, not on 1 January. If you were born before that date, you belong to the previous year's animal.
Then what?
Many people choose the pendant that matches their own sign, or give the one that matches someone they love. Every sign has its own carving.