Rooster traits
People born in the Year of the Rooster are traditionally described as honest, hard-working and observant. The year’s element – Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal or Water – is said to add its own flavour, so a Fire Rooster and a Water Rooster are not quite alike.
Compatibility
- Best matches: Ox and Snake (the same group of four), and the Dragon (its “secret friend”).
- Least compatible: the Rabbit, six places away on the wheel.
Every Year of the Rooster, 1900–2099
| Year | Element | Starts | Ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1901 | Metal (Yin) | Feb 19, 1901 | Feb 7, 1902 |
| 1913 | Water (Yin) | Feb 6, 1913 | Jan 25, 1914 |
| 1925 | Wood (Yin) | Jan 24, 1925 | Feb 12, 1926 |
| 1937 | Fire (Yin) | Feb 11, 1937 | Jan 30, 1938 |
| 1949 | Earth (Yin) | Jan 29, 1949 | Feb 16, 1950 |
| 1961 | Metal (Yin) | Feb 15, 1961 | Feb 4, 1962 |
| 1973 | Water (Yin) | Feb 3, 1973 | Jan 22, 1974 |
| 1985 | Wood (Yin) | Feb 20, 1985 | Feb 8, 1986 |
| 1997 | Fire (Yin) | Feb 7, 1997 | Jan 27, 1998 |
| 2009 | Earth (Yin) | Jan 26, 2009 | Feb 13, 2010 |
| 2021 | Metal (Yin) | Feb 12, 2021 | Jan 31, 2022 |
| 2033 | Water (Yin) | Jan 31, 2033 | Feb 18, 2034 |
| 2045 | Wood (Yin) | Feb 17, 2045 | Feb 5, 2046 |
| 2057 | Fire (Yin) | Feb 4, 2057 | Jan 23, 2058 |
| 2069 | Earth (Yin) | Jan 23, 2069 | Feb 10, 2070 |
| 2081 | Metal (Yin) | Feb 9, 2081 | Jan 28, 2082 |
| 2093 | Water (Yin) | Jan 27, 2093 | Feb 14, 2094 |
Frequently asked questions
What years are the Year of the Rooster?
Recent Rooster years are 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021. Each starts at Chinese New Year, between January 21 and February 20.
When is the next Year of the Rooster?
From Monday, January 31, 2033 – the Water Rooster year.
What is the Rooster compatible with?
Traditionally the Ox and Snake, and its “secret friend” the Dragon. It is said to clash with the Rabbit.
I was born in January or February – am I a Rooster?
Only if your birthday is on or after Chinese New Year in your birth year. The table below gives the exact start date of every Rooster year.
Find your own animal and element from your date of birth with the Chinese Zodiac Calculator. The other animals: Rat, Tiger, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Dog and Pig.