Chinese Link Words: The 12 Chinese Animal Zodiacs
生肖 (shēngxiào), literally “birth likeness”, is known in English as the Chinese zodiac.
The Chinese Zodiac is a similar concept to western astrology. It works as a scheme to help illiterate people use the Chinese ordinal system and estimate a person’s age (in combination with that person’s facial appearance).
Over the centuries, and especially after Western astrology became known in China, it evolved into a superstitious plan of future predictions that relates each year to a specific animal and its respective attributes following a 12-year mathematical cycle. It remains popular in several East Asian countries including China, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, and Thailand.
chinese link words
12 Animals of The Chinese Horoscope
The Mouse | 鼠 (shǔ)
Here comes the first Chinese zodiac: 鼠 (shǔ), which means “mouse” and sounds like the English word “shoe”.
People born in 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996 or 2008 can all say to have been born in the year of the mouse. (Share and tag your friends if they’re one of them!!)
They are usually smart, hard working, 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.
The Ox | 牛 (niú)
The Ox is the second in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac.
People born in 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997 or 2009 are all Ox-born. Share the post to find out if one of your friends is one!
Oxes tend to have a strong sense of obligation, they 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 mouse, snake and rooster.
Let’s learn another interesting expression today: “初生牛犊不怕虎 (chū shēng niú dú bú pà hǔ)” which means “newborn oxen are not afraid of tigers”. Chinese people often use this expression when they see a youngster challenging the authority. In China, respect to the elderly is instigated from a young age so seeing someone standing up for themselves is considered very audacious.
The Ox | 牛 (niú)
The Ox is the second in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac.
People born in 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997 or 2009 are all Ox-born. Share the post to find out if one of your friends is one!
Oxes tend to have a strong sense of obligation, they 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 mouse, snake and rooster.
Let’s learn another interesting expression today: “初生牛犊不怕虎 (Chūshēng niúdú bú pà hǔ)” which means “newborn oxen are not afraid of tigers”. Chinese people often use this expression when they see a youngster challenging the authority. In China, respect to the elderly is instigated from a young age so seeing someone standing up for themselves is considered very audacious.
The Tiger | 虎 (hǔ)
Here comes the 3rd Chinese zodiac: 虎 (hǔ), which means “tiger” and sounds like “who”. The sentence in the picture “who is Mr. Tiger” is a helpful way to remember this word.
People born in 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 can say to have been born in the year of the tiger. Share this post and tag your friends if they’re one of them!
Tigers tend to be independent and have an extremely strong self-esteem. They are always like an older brother. They make great politicians, judges, and police.
Their ideal partners are horses and dogs.
The Rabbit | 兔 (tù)
Here comes the 4th Chinese zodiac 兔 (tù), which means “rabbit” and sounds like the English word “too”. The sentence in the picture “I am a rabbit too” will also help you remember this word.
People born in 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999 or 2011 can say to have been born in the year of the rabbit. Share and tag your friends if they’re one of them!
Rabbits tend to be gentle, quiet and polite. People like being friends with them. They make great educators, doctors and actors/actresses.
Their ideal partners are dogs, pigs and sheep.
The Rabbit | 兔 (tù)
Here comes the 4th Chinese zodiac 兔 (tù), which means “rabbit” and sounds like the English word “too”. The sentence in the picture “I am a rabbit too” will also help you remember this word.
People born in 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999 or 2011 can say to have been born in the year of the rabbit. Share and tag your friends if they’re one of them!
Rabbits tend to be gentle, quiet and polite. People like being friends with them. They make great educators, doctors and actors/actresses.
Their ideal partners are dogs, pigs and sheep.
The Dragon | 龙 (lóng)
The 5th zodiac sign is the dragon! Wow! Chinese people call it 龙 (lóng) and it sounds like the English word “long”.
The sentence in the picture “Dragon is long” is a great way to help you remember this word.
People born in 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000 or 2012 are said to have been born in the year of the dragon. (A lot of Chinese parents want to have a little dragon child, causing a small population boom during the dragon year.)
Dragons love adventure and they pursue a romantic life. They are also not constrained by the secular.
Their ideal partners are mice, monkeys and roosters.
The Snake | 蛇 (shé)
The 6th zodiac sign is 蛇 (shé), meaning snake. It sounds like “she” in the English name “Sherlock”.
People born in 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001 or 2013 are said to have been born in the year of the snake. Tag your friends if they’re one of them!!
Snakes are tough nuts to crack; they may seem cold, but their hearts are very warm. Everything they do is planned and they know how to achieve success step by step. They make great designers, beauticians, and educators.
Their ideal partners are oxen and roosters.
The Snake | 蛇 (shé)
The 6th zodiac sign is 蛇 (shé), meaning snake. It sounds like “she” in the English name “Sherlock”.
People born in 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001 or 2013 are said to have been born in the year of the snake. Tag your friends if they’re one of them!!
Snakes are tough nuts to crack; they may seem cold, but their hearts are very warm. Everything they do is planned and they know how to achieve success step by step. They make great designers, beauticians, and educators.
Their ideal partners are oxen and roosters.
The Horse | 马 (mǎ)
Knights, are you ready? Today’s zodiac sign is the horse: 马 (mǎ)! And sounds like the “ma” in “mama”, what children call their mother. So the image of your mama in a horse costume may help you remember this word.
People born in 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002 or 2014 are born in the year of the horse. Share and tag your friends if they’re one!
Horses have initiative and refuse to accept defeat. They always work efficiently and so make great reporters, translators and salespeople. Chinese parents also have a preference to having a little horse causing a small population boom every horse year (just like the dragon year)!
The Sheep | 羊 (yáng)
Here is the 8th one: 羊 (yáng), meaning sheep or goat and sounding just like the English word “young”.
The sentence “All the YOUNG SHEEP bounce around in the field” can help you remember this animal.
People born in 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003 or 2015 are all sheep babies.
Sheep are always honest and kind but are also considered unlucky. They make great artists, doctors and teachers.
Their ideal partners are rabbits, horses and pigs.
The Sheep 羊 (yáng)
Here is the 8th one: 羊 (yáng), meaning sheep or goat and sounding just like the English word “young”.
The sentence “All the YOUNG SHEEP bounce around in the field” can help you remember this animal.
People born in 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003 or 2015 are all sheep babies.
Sheep are always honest and kind but are also considered unlucky. They make great artists, doctors and teachers.
Their ideal partners are rabbits, horses and pigs.
The Monkey | 猴 (hóu)
Here is today’s zodiac sign: 猴 (hóu)! It means monkey in English, and sounds like “hoe”.
A monkey gardening with a hoe is a funny image to remember the Chinese name for it.
If you were born in 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992 or 2004 you were born in the year monkey.
Monkey have strong gumption when in difficult situations and they like to study at an early age, making them very much inclined towards more academic subjects. They are unwilling to lag behind and always hope to get good grades.
Their ideal partners are snakes, dragons and mice.
The Chicken | 鸡 (jī)
Our next zodiac sign is 鸡 (jī). It means both rooster and chicken in English and sounds like “gee”. Now say “Gee, that chicken sure is yellow”!
People born in 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993 and 2005 were all born in the year of the rooster. Share and tag your friends if they’re one of them!
They are good at reading people’s emotions making them sociable, harmonious and friendly.
Their ideal partners are dragons, oxen and snakes.
The Chicken | 鸡 (jī)
Our next zodiac sign is 鸡 (jī). It means both rooster and chicken in English and sounds like “gee”. Now say “Gee, that chicken sure is yellow” to the picture below!
People born in 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993 and 2005 were all born in the year of the rooster. Share and tag your friends if they’re one of them!
Roosters are good at reading people’s emotions making them sociable, harmonious and friendly.
Their ideal partners are dragons, oxen and snakes.
The Dog | 狗 (gǒu)
The second last zodiac sign is 狗 (gǒu). It means “dog” in English and is very easy to memorize because it sounds like the English word “go”.
The helpful sentence this time is “the dog goes woof”.
People born in 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994 or 2006 are of the dog year. Share and tag your friends if they’re one!
The dog-born are frank and honest and are always the faithful friends. If you have been blessed with a friend born in the year of the dog, always cherish their friendship!
The Pig | 猪 (zhū)
People born in 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995 or 2007 have all been born in the year of the pig.
They tend to be calm, careful and attentive and they are considered open and warm people who usually have many friends. When faced with difficulties, they always have a good group of friends to help them out.
The ideal partners for people born in the year of the pig are people born in the year of the goat or rabbit.
Do you know anybody born in the year of the pig?
The Pig | 猪 (zhū)
People born in 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995 or 2007 have all been born in the year of the pig.
They tend to be calm, careful and attentive and they are considered open and warm people who usually have many friends. When faced with difficulties, they always have a good group of friends to help them out.
The ideal partners for people born in the year of the pig are people born in the year of the goat or rabbit.
Do you know anybody born in the year of the pig?
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