Galloping Into Fortune: What Does the Year of the Horse Mean for You?
- Claire Chen
- Dec 4, 2025
- 3 min read
🌟 Who Are You in the Chinese Zodiac?
十二生肖
十二生肖
Shí’èr shēngxiào
Do you know your zodiac?
你知道你的生肖嗎？(你知道你的生肖吗？ / Nǐ zhīdào nǐ de shēngxiào ma?)
As the Year of the Horse (2026) approaches, let’s explore the traits, characters, and symbolic meanings of each zodiac animal.
✨ The Origin Story
起源故事 (起源故事 / Qǐyuán gùshì)
The Jade Emperor held a great celestial race.The first 12 animals to finish became the 12 Zodiac signs.
傳說玉皇大帝舉辦了一場天界比賽，前十二名到達的動物將成為十二生肖。(传说玉皇大帝举办了一场天界比赛，前十二名到达的动物将成为十二生肖。)
Chuánshuō Yùhuáng Dàdì jǔbàn le yī chǎng tiānjiè bǐsài…
🐱 Why Is There No Cat?
為什麼沒有貓？(为什么没有猫？ / Wèishéme méiyǒu māo?)
Two popular legends explain why the Cat never made it:
1. The Oversleeping Cat
貓睡過頭 (猫睡过头 / Māo shuìguòtóu)
The Rat didn’t wake the Cat → Cat overslept → Missed the zodiac.
2. The River Incident
貓掉進河裡 (猫掉进河里 / Māo diào jìn hé lǐ)
The Rat pushed the Cat off the Ox’s back → Cat lost the race.
Hence, cats chase rats even today.
🐉 The 12 Zodiac Animals and Their Characters
十二生肖與性格 (十二生肖与性格 / Shí’èr shēngxiào yǔ xìnggé)
🐭 1. Rat 鼠 / 鼠 / Shǔ
Personality (性格 / 性格 / Xìnggé):
Clever, strategic, adaptable, quick-thinking.
聰明、機智、靈活、善於應變聪明、机智、灵活、善于应变
(cōngmíng, jīzhì, línghuó, shànyú yìngbiàn)
Years: 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020
🐮 2. Ox 牛 / 牛 / Niú
Personality (性格):
Patient, reliable, diligent, strong.
耐心、可靠、勤勉、有力量耐心、可靠、勤勉、有力量
(nàixīn, kěkào, qínmiǎn, yǒu lìliàng)
Years: 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021
🐯 3. Tiger 虎 / 虎 / Hǔ
Personality:
Brave, confident, energetic, competitive.
勇敢、自信、有活力、有競爭心勇敢、自信、有活力、有竞争心
(yǒnggǎn, zìxìn, yǒu huólì, yǒu jìngzhēng xīn)
Years: 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022
🐇 4. Rabbit 兔 / 兔 / Tù
Personality:Gentle, artistic, elegant, diplomatic.
溫和、藝術、優雅、善於交際温和、艺术、优雅、善于交际
(wēnhé, yìshù, yōuyǎ, shànyú jiāojì)
Years: 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023
🐉 5. Dragon 龍 / 龙 / Lóng
Personality:Ambitious, charismatic, strong-willed, energetic.
有抱負、有魅力、意志堅定、精力充沛有抱负、有魅力、意志坚定、精力充沛(yǒu bàofù, yǒu mèilì, yìzhì jiāndìng, jīnglì chōngpèi)
Years: 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024
🐍 6. Snake 蛇 / 蛇 / Shé
Personality:Wise, intuitive, mysterious, analytical.
聰慧、直覺、神秘、善於分析聪慧、直觉、神秘、善于分析
(cōnghuì, zhíjué, shénmì, shànyú fēnxī)
Years: 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025
🐴 7. Horse 馬 / 马 / Mǎ
Personality: Energetic, free-spirited, adventurous, social.
充滿活力、自由奔放、愛冒險、善交際充满活力、自由奔放、爱冒险、善交际(chōngmǎn huólì, zìyóu bēnfàng, ài màoxiǎn, shàn jiāojì)
Years: 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026
🐐 8. Goat 羊 / 羊 / Yáng
Personality:
Gentle, kind, creative, artistic.
溫和、善良、有創造力、有藝術氣質
温和、善良、有创造力、有艺术气质
(wēnhé, shànliáng, yǒu chuàngzàolì, yǒu yìshù qìzhì)
Years: 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015
🐒 9. Monkey 猴 / 猴 / Hóu
Personality:
Clever, curious, playful, inventive.
聰明、好奇、愛玩、善於創新
聪明、好奇、爱玩、善于创新
(cōngmíng, hàoqí, ài wán, shànyú chuàngxīn)
Years: 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016
🐓 10. Rooster 雞 / 鸡 / Jī
Personality:
Organized, punctual, observant, confident.
有組織、守時、細心、自信
有组织、守时、细心、自信
(yǒu zǔzhī, shǒushí, xìxīn, zìxìn)
Years: 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017
🐕 11. Dog 狗 / 狗 / Gǒu
Personality:
Loyal, protective, honest, responsible.
忠誠、守護、誠實、有責任感
忠诚、守护、诚实、有责任感
(zhōngchéng, shǒuhù, chéngshí, yǒu zérèn gǎn)
Years: 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018
🐖 12. Pig 豬 / 猪 / Zhū
Personality:
Warm, generous, cheerful, sincere.
溫暖、慷慨、開朗、真誠
温暖、慷慨、开朗、真诚
(wēnnuǎn, kāngkǎi, kāilǎng, zhēnchéng)
Characters:
福 (fú) — blessed, fortunate
憨 (hān) — sweet, simple-hearted
厚 (hòu) — tolerant, sincere
Years: 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019
The Chinese zodiac is a blend of mythology, personality, and cultural wisdom. As the Year of the Horse approaches, embrace:
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