Chinese zodiac · Yin · animal number 4 of 12
Year of the Rabbit: years, element cycle and traits
The fourth animal, traditionally linked with gentleness, tact and a preference for peaceful company.
Animal: 兔 tù · Earthly branch: 卯 mǎo
The Rabbit is fourth in the order, and the zodiac is the same in many countries but not all. In the Vietnamese version the Cat takes the place of the Rabbit, and one common explanation points to the similarity between the Rabbit's earthly-branch name, mǎo (卯), and the Vietnamese word for a cat, mèo. The Chinese word for the animal itself is tù (兔). In China the Rabbit is a gentle figure tied to the Moon in folk story, where a jade rabbit is said to pound herbs with a mortar on the Moon.
Rabbit years from 1924 to 2031
The Chinese zodiac animal changes at Lunar New Year, not on 1 January. Each row shows the date the Rabbit year begins and the last day before the next animal takes over. Dates follow China Standard Time (UTC+8) and are computed from the positions of the Sun and the new Moon.
| Year | Element and polarity | Starts (Lunar New Year) | Ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1927 | Fire Rabbit (Yin) | ||
| 1939 | Earth Rabbit (Yin) | ||
| 1951 | Metal Rabbit (Yin) | ||
| 1963 | Water Rabbit (Yin) | ||
| 1975 | Wood Rabbit (Yin) | ||
| 1987 | Fire Rabbit (Yin) | ||
| 1999 | Earth Rabbit (Yin) | ||
| 2011 | Metal Rabbit (Yin) | ||
| 2023 | Water Rabbit (Yin) |
If you were born in January or February, check the start date before assuming your animal. For example, a person born on 15 January 2023 was born before the 2023 Lunar New Year on 2023-01-22, so their zodiac animal is the Tiger from the previous year, not the Rabbit. Birth place can also matter near the boundary, because the date is set in China time.
The element cycle for the Rabbit
The Chinese calendar pairs the 12 animals with five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. Each element covers two consecutive years, first yang and then yin, so the full pairing of animal and element repeats only every 60 years. The Rabbit is a yin animal, and in the Four Pillars (BaZi) system its own fixed element is Wood, which is separate from the element of the year.
- Wood Rabbit (1975): the Wood element is read as growth, planning and reaching outward.
- Fire Rabbit (1927, 1987): the Fire element is read as warmth, expression and quick action.
- Earth Rabbit (1939, 1999): the Earth element is read as steadiness, care and holding things together.
- Metal Rabbit (1951, 2011): the Metal element is read as clarity, precision and firm edges.
- Water Rabbit (1963, 2023): the Water element is read as adaptability, depth and flowing around obstacles.
The traditional hour of the Rabbit is 05:00 to 07:00. The popular zodiac year begins at Lunar New Year, while the Four Pillars system begins its year at Lichun, around 4 February; the two can give different animals for dates in early February, as explained on how we calculate.
Traits as reflection
People born in a Rabbit year are traditionally described as gentle, thoughtful and good at keeping the peace. The Rabbit is associated with grace and refined taste, and the character is often said to prefer a calm home to a crowded stage. None of this describes every person born in a Rabbit year; read it as a mirror to hold up, not a rule.
Strengths people often recognise
- Tact and a gift for smoothing over tension
- Attentive to the comfort of others
- Eye for beauty and detail
- Careful with words
Themes to reflect on
- Avoiding conflict until it grows
- Hesitating when a firm answer is needed
- Withdrawing when a place feels too loud
Rabbit compatibility table
Traditional folk compatibility compares animals by position on the 12-step cycle. The Rabbit's trine allies are the Goat and Pig; its sixth-harmony partner is the Dog; the opposite animal, the traditional clash, is the Rooster. These are folk groupings, offered as conversation starters rather than verdicts on any relationship.
| Animal | Traditional relation |
|---|---|
| Rat | No special relation |
| Ox | No special relation |
| Tiger | No special relation |
| Dragon | Traditional harm pairing |
| Snake | No special relation |
| Horse | No special relation |
| Goat | Trine ally |
| Monkey | No special relation |
| Rooster | Opposite on the cycle (clash) |
| Dog | Sixth-harmony partner |
| Pig | Trine ally |
The animal is only one part of a Chinese chart, and Western signs add another layer. See the compatibility report for two-chart comparisons, or browse the 12 zodiac signs.
Questions to reflect on
- Which conversation am I avoiding because I want everyone to stay comfortable?
- What would a firm answer sound like?
- Where do I go to feel at ease, and when did I last go?
See your own Chinese zodiac year
The free chart shows your Chinese zodiac animal and element beside your Western Sun, Moon and Rising signs, calculated in your browser from your birth date, time and place.
Explore other animals
Next in the cycle: Dragon. Before: Tiger. The full year-by-year table lists every year from 1924 to 2031, and the origins and sources page explains where these traditions come from.
Astrology is a symbolic framework that mainstream science does not recognize. These lines are prompts for reflection, not advice or a forecast. Orrery Lane offers astrology for reflection and entertainment. It does not predict events and is not professional advice.