Learning Chinese with Chinese zodiac

The Chinese zodiac (_生肖) is based on a twelve-year cycle, each year in that cycle related to an animal sign. These signs are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. It is calculated according to Chinese lunar calendar. You can use the calculator to search for your Chinese zodiac animal sign. Select your Gregorian date of birth, and you'll reveal your date of birth according to the lunar calendar, together with your zodiac sign.

shǔ-鼠

Here comes the first Chinese zodiac "shǔ(鼠)" , which means "mouse" and sounds like "shoe".

第一个中国生肖是"shǔ（鼠）"，意思是"mouse（老鼠）"，发音类似"shoe"。

People born in 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008 can be said to have been born in the year of the mouse.

生于1960、1972、1984、1996和2008的人可以说是鼠年出生的。

They tend to be smart, hardworking, and ambitious. These traits make it easy for them to get rich. They make great accountants, engineers, and managers. Their ideal partners are oxen, monkeys, and dragons.

这些鼠年出生的人往往很聪明、不辞辛劳，并且很有雄心。这些性格特质让他们更易于致富。他们通常是一些优秀的会计人员、工程师和经理。他们的理想伴侣是生于牛年、猴年和龙年的人。

niú-牛

Next is "niú (牛)". It means "cow/ox" and sounds like the English word "new".

接下来是"niú (牛)"，意思是"cow/ox（母牛、公牛）"，发音类似英语里的"new"。

The Ox is the second in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac. People born in 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997 and 2009 can be said to have been born in the year of the ox.

"牛"是中国12生肖里的第二个。生于1961、1973、1985、1997和2009的人可以说是牛年出生的。

They tend to have strong sense of obligation, work hard, and it is easy for them to win the boss’s praise and trust. They make great farmers, businessmen and consultants. Their ideal partners are mouses, snakes and roosters.

牛年出生的人往往有着很强的责任感，工作努力，而且他们很容易赢得上司的赞赏和信任。他们通常是出色的农民、商人和顾问。他们的理想伴侣是鼠年、蛇年和鸡年出生的人。

hǔ-虎

Here comes the 3rd Chinese zodiac "hǔ(虎)" , which means "tiger" and sounds like "who".

第三个中国生肖是"hǔ(虎)"，意思是"tiger（老虎）"，发音类似"who"。

People born in 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 can be said to have been born in the year of the tiger.

生于1962、1974、1986、1998和2010的人可以说是虎年出生的。

They tend to be independent and have an extremely strong self-esteem. They are always like eldest brothers. They make great politicians, judges, and police. Their ideal partners are pigs, horses and dogs.

这些人往往比较独立，有着极强的自尊心。他们总是让人感觉像是哥哥一样。他们通常是一些伟大的政治家、法官和警察。他们的理想伴侣是生于猪年、马年和狗年的人。

tù-兔

Here comes the 4th Chinese zodiac "tù(兔)" , which means "rabbit" and sounds like the English word"too".

接下来是第四个生肖"tù(兔)"，意思是"rabbit（兔子）"，发音类似英语里的"too"。

People born in 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999 or 2011 can be said to have been born in the year of the rabbit.

生于1963、1975、1987、1999和2011的人可以说是兔年出生的人。

They tend to be gentle, quiet and polite. People all like to make friends with them. They make great educators, doctors and actors (actresses). Their ideal partners are dogs, pigs and sheep.

这些兔年出生的人往往都比较温和、安静，有礼貌，大家都喜欢和他们交朋友。他们通常是一些优秀的教育家、医生和男女演员。他们的理想伴侣是狗年、猪年和羊年出生的人。

Let's learn an interesting expression. "兔子不吃窝边草 tù zi bù chī wō biān cǎo"(the rabbit does not eat the grass around his burrow) means a villain doesn't harm his neighbors.

来学个有趣的中文表达："兔子不吃窝边草 tù zi bù chī wō biān cǎo" (the rabbit does not eat the grass around his burrow)，中文里的意思是"恶人不会伤害他周围的邻居"。

lóng-龙

Next is "lóng (龙)". It means "dragon" and sounds like the English word "long".

下一个是"lóng (龙)"，意思是"dragon（龙）"，发音类似英文单词"long"。

People born in 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000 and 2012 are said to have been born in the year of the dragon. Dragons love adventure and they pursue a romantic life. The ideal mates for them are mice, monkeys and roosters.

生于1964、1976、1988、2000和2012的人可以说是龙年出生的人。龙年出生的人喜欢冒险，追求浪漫的生活。他们的理想伴侣是鼠年、猴年和鸡年出生的人。

shé-蛇

Next is "shé (蛇)". It means "snake" and sounds like "sher" in the English name "Sherlock".

接下来是"shé (蛇)"，意思是"snake（蛇）"，发音像"Sherlock"里的"sher"。

People born in 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001 and 2013 are said to have been born in the year of the snake. Snakes are tough nuts to crack; they may seem cold, but their heart is very warm. They do things in a planned way and achieve success step by step. They make great designers, beauticians, and educators. The ideal mates for them are oxen and roosters. 

生于1929、1941、1953、1965、1977、1989、2001和2013的人可以说是蛇年出生的人。蛇是很难对付的，蛇年出生的人看似冷酷，但是内心很温暖。他们做事有规划，循序渐进取得成功。他们通常是一些杰出的设计师、美容师和教育家。他们的理想伴侣是生于牛年和鸡年的人。

mǎ-马

Next is "mǎ (马)". It sounds like the "ma" in "mama", like what children call their mother.

下一个是"mǎ (马)"，发音类似"mama"里的"ma"，就像小孩子叫他们的妈妈一样。

People born in 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002 and 2014 are said to have been born in the year of the horse.

生于1918、1930、1942、1954、1966、1978、1990、2002和2014的人可以说是马年出生的人。

Horses have initiative and refuse to accept defeat. They are always efficient during work, so they make great reporters, translators and salespeople.

马年出生的人有主动性，拒绝接受失败。他们工作的时候很有效率，所以他们通常是专业的记者、翻译家和推销员。

yáng-羊

Here is the 2015 zodiac "yáng (羊)"! It means sheep or goat, and sounds like "young".

接下来是2015年的"yáng（羊）"，意思是"sheep/goat (绵羊、山羊)"，发音类似"young"。

People born in 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003 and 2015 are said to have been born in the year of the sheep. They are always honest, kind and easy to be infected by the unfortunate experience. They make great artists, doctors and teachers. The ideal mates for them are rabbits, horses and pigs. 

生于1919、1931、1943、1955、1967、1979、1991、2003和2015的人可以说是羊年出生的人。他们通常都很诚实，善良，很容易受不幸经历的影响。他们大多是杰出的艺术家、医生和教师。他们的理想伴侣是生于兔年、马年和猪年的人。

hóu-猴

Next is "hóu (猴)"! It means monkey, and sounds like "hoe".

接下来是"hóu (猴)"，意思是"monkey (猴子)"，发音像"hoe"。

People born in 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992 and 2004 are said to have been born in the year of the monkey.

生于1920、1932、1944、1956、1968、1980、1992和2004的人可以说是猴年出生的人。

They have strong gumption. They like to study at an early age and their intelligence is inclined toward academia. They are unwilling to lag behind and always hope to get good grades. The ideal mates for them are snakes, dragons and mice.

这些人有着强烈的进取心，他们喜欢从小就开始学习，并且他们的智力倾向于学术界。他们不愿意掉队，总是希望取得好成果。他们的理想伴侣是蛇年、龙年和鼠年出生的人。

jī-鸡

Our next zodiac sign is "jī(鸡)". It means both rooster in English and sounds like "gee".

下一个生肖是"jī(鸡)"，意思是英文里的"rooster (公鸡)"，发音像"gee"。

People born in 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993 and 2005 are said to have been born in the year of the rooster. They are good at reading people’s emotions. They are sociable, harmonious, and easily make new friends. The ideal mates for them are dragons, oxen and snakes.    

生于1921、1933、1945、1957、1969、1981、1993和2005的人可以说是鸡年出生的人。他们很擅于读懂人们的情绪。这些人善于交际，很和谐，而且很容易交到新朋友。他们的理想伴侣是龙年、牛年和蛇年出生的人。

gǒu-狗

The last second zodiac sign is "gǒu(狗)". It means "dog" and is very easy to memorize because it sounds like the English word "go".

倒数第二个生肖是"gǒu(狗)"，意思是"dog (狗)"，而且很容易记住，因为它的发音听起来像英文单词"go"。

People born in 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994 and 2006 are said to have been born in the year of the dog.

生于1922、1934、1946、1958、1970、1982、1994和2006的人可以说是狗年出生的人。

They are frank and honest. They always remain faithful to friends. So, if you have a friend born in the year of dog, please treasure your friendship!

狗年出生的人很直率诚实。他们对朋友很忠实，因此，要是你有一个狗年出生的朋友，请一定珍惜你们的友谊！

zhū-猪

Last is "zhū(猪)", meaning "pig".

最后一个是"zhū(猪)"，意思是"pig (猪)"。

People, who are born in 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, are said to have been born in the "year of the pig". They tend to be calm, careful and attentive. They are open and warm people that usually have many friends. When they encounter some difficulty, they will always have a group of friends to help them. The ideal mates for people born in the "year of the pig" are people born in the year of goat and rabbit.

生于1923、1935、1947、1959、1971、1983、1995和2007的人都可以说是猪年出生的人。这些人往往比较冷静、细心和专心。他们比较开放热情，通常都有很多朋友。他们要是遇到麻烦的话，都会有一大帮的朋友帮助他们。这些猪年出生的人的理想伴侣是生于羊年和兔年的人。