Chinese zodiac · 酉 · yǒu
Year of the Rooster
Quick answer
Recent Rooster years: 1993, 2005, and 2017; the next begins in 2029. Each one starts at Lunar New Year, between January 21 and February 20, so a birthday early in the year may belong to the year before. In the classical tables the best matches for the Rooster are Dragon (six harmony) and Snake and Ox (three harmony), and its clash is Rabbit.
Earthly branch
酉 · yǒu
Fixed element
Metal
Yin or yang
Yin
Double hour (時辰)
17:00–19:00
Personality
The Rooster greets the dawn, and tradition links it with punctuality, courage and honesty. Rooster people are often described as observant, hardworking and confident, with a keen eye for detail and style.
酉 is the evening hour and the heart of autumn, metal at its sharpest. Roosters tend to say what they think, keep high standards and take pride in doing things well.
Strengths
- Observant and precise
- Hardworking
- Honest and direct
- Stylish and confident
Growing edges
A critical eye can turn on themselves and others. Roosters grow by celebrating what is good enough.
Love and friendship
Roosters show love by being dependable and attentive. They tend to appreciate people who are honest with them and who notice the care they put in.
Compatibility
Chinese astrology pairs the twelve branches in a few classical ways. They describe tendencies between birth years, never a verdict on two real people: a full chart, and the people themselves, say much more.
Six harmony (六合)
Branches that combine as a pair. Traditionally the easiest, most complementary bond.
Animals four years apart that together form a frame of metal. Traditionally read as kindred spirits and natural allies.
Clash (六沖)
The animal six years away, opposite on the circle. Traditionally read as different rhythms: friction for some pairs, a useful balance for others.
Harm (六害)
A subtler mismatch in the classical tables, often read as small misunderstandings that ask for patience.
Rooster years, 1900–2099
Each year runs from Lunar New Year to the eve of the next. Its element comes from the year’s heavenly stem, so the same element and animal return every sixty years.
| Year | Dates | Stem and branch |
|---|---|---|
| 1909 | Jan 22, 1909 – Feb 9, 1910Earth · Yin | 己酉jǐ yǒu |
| 1921 | Feb 8, 1921 – Jan 27, 1922Metal · Yin | 辛酉xīn yǒu |
| 1933 | Jan 26, 1933 – Feb 13, 1934Water · Yin | 癸酉guǐ yǒu |
| 1945 | Feb 13, 1945 – Feb 1, 1946Wood · Yin | 乙酉yǐ yǒu |
| 1957 | Jan 31, 1957 – Feb 17, 1958Fire · Yin | 丁酉dīng yǒu |
| 1969 | Feb 17, 1969 – Feb 5, 1970Earth · Yin | 己酉jǐ yǒu |
| 1981 | Feb 5, 1981 – Jan 24, 1982Metal · Yin | 辛酉xīn yǒu |
| 1993 | Jan 23, 1993 – Feb 9, 1994Water · Yin | 癸酉guǐ yǒu |
| 2005 | Feb 9, 2005 – Jan 28, 2006Wood · Yin | 乙酉yǐ yǒu |
| 2017 | Jan 28, 2017 – Feb 15, 2018Fire · Yin | 丁酉dīng yǒu |
| 2029 | Feb 13, 2029 – Feb 2, 2030Earth · Yin | 己酉jǐ yǒu |
| 2041 | Feb 1, 2041 – Jan 21, 2042Metal · Yin | 辛酉xīn yǒu |
| 2053 | Feb 19, 2053 – Feb 7, 2054Water · Yin | 癸酉guǐ yǒu |
| 2065 | Feb 5, 2065 – Jan 25, 2066Wood · Yin | 乙酉yǐ yǒu |
| 2077 | Jan 24, 2077 – Feb 11, 2078Fire · Yin | 丁酉dīng yǒu |
| 2089 | Feb 10, 2089 – Jan 29, 2090Earth · Yin | 己酉jǐ yǒu |
Not sure of your animal?
Born in January or February? Check the exact Lunar New Year date for your birthday.
Open the Chinese zodiac calculator →Keep your birth details
Create a free account to save your birth details. A full Chinese mode with your Four Pillars is coming to Aurae.
Create a free account