2 of 12 · Chou 丑

Chinese zodiac Ox: year of the Ox

Chinese zodiac Ox: years, element, personality traits and compatibility for people born in the year of the Ox.

Position
2 of 12
Earthly branch
Chou 丑
Polarity
Yin
Fixed element
Earth
Hours
1 – 3 am
Solar month
Jan 6 – Feb 3
Next year
2033

Chinese zodiac Ox years

The year of the Ox returns every 12 years. It begins at Lunar New Year, so people born in January or early February belong to the previous animal if they were born before the new year.

Years of the Ox, 1924–2043
YearElementDates
1925Wood OxJan 24, 1925 – Feb 12, 1926
1937Fire OxFeb 11, 1937 – Jan 30, 1938
1949Earth OxJan 29, 1949 – Feb 16, 1950
1961Metal OxFeb 15, 1961 – Feb 4, 1962
1973Water OxFeb 3, 1973 – Jan 22, 1974
1985Wood OxFeb 20, 1985 – Feb 8, 1986
1997Fire OxFeb 7, 1997 – Jan 27, 1998
2009Earth OxJan 26, 2009 – Feb 13, 2010
2021Metal OxFeb 12, 2021 – Jan 31, 2022
2033Water OxJan 31, 2033 – Feb 18, 2034

Ox personality

The Ox is the symbol of steady work in an agricultural society. People born in Ox years are traditionally described as reliable, methodical and strong-willed, if slow to change their minds.

Traditional traits: diligent, dependable, patient, determined.

Agriculture, engineering, medicine and any work that rewards persistence are associated with the Ox.

Ox compatibility

Element variations

Each Ox year also carries one of the five elements, so there are five kinds of Ox: Wood Ox, Fire Ox, Earth Ox, Metal Ox, Water Ox. The element is set by the last digit of the year.

Other animals

Chinese zodiac calculator · The 2026 Chinese zodiac year

Updated · How we write and check this guide