Chinese Zodiac Animals in Chinese: Names, Pinyin, Characters, and Meanings
The 12 Chinese zodiac animals are called 十二生肖 shí’èr shēngxiào in Chinese. They are Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.
This page gives the Chinese characters, pinyin, English names, Earthly Branches, and translation notes so English readers can understand what the zodiac names actually mean.
12 Chinese zodiac animals in Chinese quick chart
The table below shows the familiar animal names in English, their Chinese characters, pinyin pronunciation, and Earthly Branches.
| Commande | English animal | Chinese animal name | Pinyin | Branche terrestre | Sign guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1er | Rat | 鼠 | shǔ | 子 zǐ | L'année du Rat |
| 2e | Bœuf | 牛 | niú | 丑 chǒu | L'année du Buffle |
| 3e | Tigre | 虎 | hǔ | 寅 yín | L'année du Tigre |
| 4e | Lapin | 兔 | tù | 卯 mǎo | L'année du Lapin |
| 5e | Dragon | 龙 | lóng | 辰 chén | L'année du Dragon |
| 6e | Serpent | 蛇 | shé | 巳 oui | L'année du Serpent |
| 7e | Cheval | 马 | mǎ | 午 wǔ | L'année du Cheval |
| 8e | Chèvre | 羊 | yáng | 未 wèi | Année de la Chèvre |
| 9e | Singe | 猴 | hóu | 申 shēn | L'année du Singe |
| 10e | Coq | 鸡 | jī | 酉 yǒu | L'année du Coq |
| 11e | Chien | 狗 | gǒu | 戌 xū | L'année du Chien |
| 12e | Cochon | 猪 | zhū | 亥 hài | L'année du Cochon |
Animal name and Earthly Branch are not the same word
The animal name is the familiar label, such as 马 mǎ for Horse. The Earthly Branch is the calendar sign, such as 午 wǔ for the Horse branch.
Both matter, but they are different layers of the traditional zodiac system.
Que signifie 生肖 shēngxiào mean?
The common Chinese word for zodiac animal is 生肖, qui se prononce shēngxiào. The full phrase 十二生肖 means the 12 Chinese zodiac animals.
In everyday use, 生肖 usually points to the animal sign connected with a person’s birth year. But the system also connects with the 12 Earthly Branches, the Five Elements, yin-yang stems, and the 60-year cycle.
The common term for a Chinese zodiac animal sign.
The full set of 12 zodiac animals in order.
Another common word for a person’s zodiac animal sign.
The 12 animal names, one by one
These cards give a quick meaning note for each animal name. The meanings are cultural symbols, not scientific personality types.
Often read through timing, alertness, resourcefulness, and the ability to notice small openings.
Often read through patience, duty, steadiness, practical strength, and reliable work.
Often read through vision, scale, transformation, presence, and larger possibility.
Often read through care, sensitivity, creativity, emotional nuance, and humane softness.
Often read through wit, adaptability, curiosity, humor, and agile problem-solving.
Often read through loyalty, protection, sincerity, fairness, and trust built through action.
Often read through sincerity, warmth, generosity, comfort, patience, and humane trust.
Simplified and traditional character notes
The animal names on this page use simplified Chinese, which is standard in mainland China. Many zodiac animal names look the same in traditional Chinese, but a few common forms differ.
| English | Simplified | Traditional | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dragon | 龙 | 龍 | The traditional form is common in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and many classical or decorative contexts. |
| Cheval | 马 | 馬 | Both forms refer to the same animal sign. |
| Coq | 鸡 | 雞 | The simplified character is used on this site for consistency. |
| Cochon | 猪 | 豬 | Both forms refer to the same zodiac animal. |
For most readers, the simplified forms are enough for recognizing the zodiac animals. When a traditional form appears in art, temples, calendars, or overseas Chinese contexts, it usually refers to the same sign.
Why Earthly Branch names look different
One common confusion is that the Chinese animal name and the Earthly Branch are not the same character. For example, Horse is 马 mǎ, but the Horse branch is 午 wǔ.
The animal is the familiar symbol. The branch is part of the older calendar framework. A year such as 2026 Fire Horse is traditionally labeled Bingwu Bǐngwǔ, where 午 is the Horse branch.
Words like Rat, Horse, and Pig are easier for everyday zodiac reading and cultural explanation.
Characters like 子, 午, and 亥 are part of the traditional stem-branch timekeeping system.
To see how branches combine with Heavenly Stems and elements, read Combinaisons d'éléments du zodiaque chinois.
Translation notes English readers should know
Most animal names translate cleanly, but a few need explanation. These notes help avoid the most common English-language misunderstandings.
The sign can be translated in different ways. This site uses Goat for consistency. See Goat, Sheep or Ram?
English zodiac usage usually says Ox because it better matches the traditional work-animal image.
Rooster is the common zodiac label in English, even though the Chinese word can refer more broadly to chicken.
Common mistakes about Chinese zodiac names
鼠 Rat and 子 branch are connected, but they are not the same word.
They are English translations of the same Chinese sign: 羊 yáng.
Pinyin marks, such as mǎ and mǎo, help distinguish different Chinese syllables.
English names are useful, but the Chinese characters reveal the calendar structure more clearly.
The animal names are cultural symbols, not scientific personality categories.
Knowing the name is only step one. The correct sign also depends on the zodiac-year boundary.
Chinese zodiac animals in Chinese FAQ
What are the 12 Chinese zodiac animals in Chinese?
The 12 Chinese zodiac animals in Chinese are 鼠 shǔ, 牛 niú, 虎 hǔ, 兔 tù, 龙 lóng, 蛇 shé, 马 mǎ, 羊 yáng, 猴 hóu, 鸡 jī, 狗 gǒu, and 猪 zhū.
Are the animal characters the same as the Earthly Branches?
No. The animal words, such as 鼠 for Rat and 马 for Horse, are different from the Earthly Branches, such as 子 et 午. The branch is the calendar layer, while the animal is the familiar zodiac label.
What is the Chinese word for zodiac animal?
The common Chinese term for the zodiac animals is 生肖, qui se prononce shēngxiào. The full set of 12 animals is called 十二生肖, qui se prononce shí’èr shēngxiào.
Why is 羊 translated as Goat, Sheep, or Ram?
羊 yáng is broader than one English animal word and can be translated as Goat, Sheep, or Ram depending on context. The Zodiac Lore uses Goat for consistency.
Should I use simplified or traditional Chinese characters?
This site mainly uses simplified Chinese characters for consistency. Traditional forms may appear in other contexts, but they usually refer to the same zodiac animals.
What is the difference between 生肖 and 属相?
Both can refer to a person’s zodiac animal sign. 生肖 is common for the zodiac animal system, while 属相 is often used when asking what sign someone “belongs to.”
Prochaines étapes
Use these related pages to read the full 12-sign system, check your sign, or understand the calendar layers behind the animal names.