Chinese Year of the Ox

1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021

The Ox is the second animal sign in the Chinese zodiac cycle. The old Chinese story behind this was that the Jade emperor ordered a race to select the 12 animals to be his personal guards. The animals arrived in the order of the cycle. 

The ox finished the race just behind the clever rat, who was riding on the Ox and jumped across the finish line just before the Ox crossed it!

People born in the Year of the Ox include those born in 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, and 2021.

Though be careful, our Gregorian calendar does not line up perfectly with the Chinese lunisolar calendar. If you were born in January or February (generally, the Chinese New Year begins in late January or early February), check the Chinese New Year dates from your birth year to determine your correct zodiac sign! 

If you’re an Ox, read on for a few more details!

The Ox Personality

They’re hard-working, goal-oriented, and reliable, with an unwavering attentiveness to friends and family.

This trait can make them good leaders, especially when coupled with their strength of will and determination. As with anything though, this can be their downfall, when they become overly convinced that it’s their way or the highway!

Even worse, sometimes they can be overly conservative in their approach, leaving opportunities on the table. Such a steadfast and serious sign can sometimes suffer from loneliness or insecurity as well. 

Compatible with: Rabbit or Snake, but Rat, Monkey, and Rooster are best

Be careful around: Tiger, Dragon, Horse, Goat 

See more fun facts in this article on the Chinese Zodiac Ox sign.

Chinese Zodiac Elements

Chinese astrology assigns each year with one of the five elements (Metal, Water, Wood, Earth, and Fire). When you combine these five elements with the 12-year cycle of animal signs, you get a 60-year cycle.

Each of those elements have associated meanings. Here they are on a rather simplistic level:

• Wood: creativity, imagination
• Fire: passion, adventure
• Metal: persistence, ambition
• Water: agility, eloquence
• Earth: patience, stability

To find your Chinese element, look at the last number of your birth year:

• For birth years ending in 0 or 1, your element is metal.
• For birth years ending 2 or 3, your element is water.
• For birth years ending in 4 or 5, your element is wood.
• For birth years ending in 6 or 7, your element is fire.
• For birth years ending in 8 or 9, your element is earth.

Full Zodiac Animal Chart

Below is the full spectrum of Chinese zodiac animals. Click on the image to look up your own sign by birth year, and read more about how Judy, Sarah and Kaitlin rediscovered their Chinese Zodiac signs in Hong Kong.

Happy New Year everyone!

If you’re looking to shower your family and friends with well-wishes and greetings or at least understand them, check out 23 of the most common Chinese New Year greetings in both Mandarin and Cantonese.

Don’t forget to visit our Chinese New Year recipe planning guide to plan your own celebration meal.