The Dragon is the fifth animal of the Chinese zodiac and the only one that doesn't exist. That hasn't stopped it from being the most admired sign of all: for two thousand years the dragon was the emblem of the emperor, and many families still hope for a "Dragon baby".
In this guide you'll find the exact dates of every Dragon year, what the Dragon means in Chinese culture, the personality traits tradition gives it, its lucky signs and best matches, famous people born in Dragon years, and the Mandarin you need to talk about it.
Key takeaways
- The next Year of the Dragon runs from 28 January 2036 to 14 February 2037 (a Fire Dragon year).
- Dragon years: 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024, 2036. Each starts on Chinese New Year.
- The Dragon stands for power, success, good fortune and imperial authority.
- Tradition describes Dragons as ambitious, charismatic and energetic, but also proud.
- Best matches: Rooster, Rat and Monkey. Classic clash: Dog.
When is the next Year of the Dragon?
The most recent Dragon year ran from 10 February 2024 to 28 January 2025. The next one starts on 28 January 2036 and ends on 14 February 2037.
The zodiac year starts on Chinese New Year, which moves between 21 January and 20 February. Born in January or early February? Check the start date below. Taiwanese singer Teresa Teng was born on 29 January 1953, so she's a Dragon, not a Snake: the Snake year only began on 14 February 1953.
Year of the Dragon dates
Year | Starts | Ends | Element |
|---|---|---|---|
1928 | 23 Jan 1928 | 9 Feb 1929 | Earth Dragon |
1940 | 8 Feb 1940 | 26 Jan 1941 | Metal Dragon |
1952 | 27 Jan 1952 | 13 Feb 1953 | Water Dragon |
1964 | 13 Feb 1964 | 1 Feb 1965 | Wood Dragon |
1976 | 31 Jan 1976 | 17 Feb 1977 | Fire Dragon |
1988 | 17 Feb 1988 | 5 Feb 1989 | Earth Dragon |
2000 | 5 Feb 2000 | 23 Jan 2001 | Metal Dragon |
2012 | 23 Jan 2012 | 9 Feb 2013 | Water Dragon |
2024 | 10 Feb 2024 | 28 Jan 2025 | Wood Dragon |
2036 | 28 Jan 2036 | 14 Feb 2037 | Fire Dragon |
Each Dragon year also carries one of the Five Elements (五行 wǔxíng), which change every two years. Since the Dragon controls rain and rivers in Chinese myth, a Water Dragon year like 2012 was considered especially auspicious.
What does the Dragon mean in Chinese culture?
龙 lóng · dragon (traditional: 龍)
In the Great Race, the Dragon could have flown straight to the finish line. Instead it stopped to make rain for a village suffering from drought, then blew a struggling Rabbit to the shore, and came in fifth. That's the Chinese dragon in a nutshell: powerful, but generous with that power.
Forget the fire-breathing European monster guarding gold. The Chinese 龙 is a wise, lucky creature with the body of a snake, the claws of an eagle and the antlers of a deer. It lives in rivers, seas and clouds, and the Dragon Kings (龙王 Lóngwáng) decide when the rain falls. Fishing villages and rice farmers prayed to them for centuries.
The dragon was also the symbol of the emperor, who sat on the "dragon throne" and wore robes embroidered with five-clawed dragons that nobody else was allowed to use. Today Chinese people still sometimes call themselves 龙的传人 lóng de chuánrén, "descendants of the dragon".
You'll see dragons at every big celebration: the dragon dance at Chinese New Year, dragon boat races at the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节 Duānwǔ Jié). And in Dragon years, maternity wards across Chinese-speaking communities often get busier, because a Dragon baby is considered lucky.
Personality traits of people born in the Year of the Dragon
In Chinese tradition, your zodiac animal is said to shape your character. It's cultural heritage, not science, but no sign gets a more flattering portrait than the Dragon.
Strengths
Ambitious. Dragons set big goals and expect to reach them.
Charismatic. They draw attention without trying, and people want to be on their team.
Energetic. A Dragon brings enthusiasm that lifts the whole room.
Confident. They believe in themselves, which makes others believe in them too.
Generous. Like the dragon bringing rain, they share their success.
Challenges
Proud. Dragons find it hard to admit they were wrong.
Impatient. Slower people and slow progress frustrate them.
Domineering. They like to be in charge, sometimes a bit too much.
Stubborn. Being told no is not something a Dragon accepts easily.
High expectations. They can be demanding of themselves and of everyone around them.
Dragon quick facts
Position | 5th of 12 |
Earthly branch | 辰 chén |
Hours of the Dragon | 7 am to 9 am |
Fixed element | Earth |
Yin or yang | Yang |
Zodiac trio (三合 sānhé) | Dragon, Rat, Monkey |
Lucky signs for the Dragon
These are folk beliefs, not science, and sources don't always agree. We use the list published by China Highlights for all twelve animals, so the guides stay consistent.
Lucky | Unlucky | |
|---|---|---|
Numbers | 1, 6, 7 | 3, 8 |
Colours | Gold, silver, greyish white | Blue, green |
Flowers | Bleeding-heart glory bower, dragon flower | |
Directions | East, north, south | Northwest |
Dragon compatibility
Traditional compatibility comes from each animal's position on the zodiac wheel: trios four years apart (三合 sānhé) and pairs of "secret friends" (六合 liùhé) get along; opposites six years apart clash (六冲 liùchōng), and six pairs "harm" each other (六害 liùhài).
Sign | Why | |
|---|---|---|
Best match | Rooster 鸡 | Secret friends (六合). The organised Rooster turns the Dragon's big plans into reality. |
Best match | Rat 鼠 | Same trio (三合). The Rat's cleverness and the Dragon's ambition make a power couple. |
Best match | Monkey 猴 | Same trio (三合). Two bold, inventive signs who never get bored together. |
Challenging | Dog 狗 | Direct clash (六冲). The principled Dog questions the Dragon's authority, and the Dragon hates that. |
Challenging | Rabbit 兔 | Harm pair (六害). The quiet Rabbit feels overwhelmed by the Dragon's intensity. |
Zodiac compatibility is tradition, not a rule. It's a fun topic, not a reason to break up.
Famous people born in the Year of the Dragon
Name | Known for | Born |
|---|---|---|
Bruce Lee 李小龙 | Martial artist and actor (his name means "little dragon") | 1940 |
John Lennon | Musician | 1940 |
Teresa Teng 邓丽君 | Taiwanese singer | 29 Jan 1953 |
Keanu Reeves | Actor | 1964 |
Wang Leehom 王力宏 | Singer and songwriter | 1976 |
Adele | Singer | 1988 |
Rihanna | Singer and entrepreneur | 20 Feb 1988 |
Two near misses: Teresa Teng was born before Chinese New Year 1953, so she belongs to the 1952 Dragon year. Rihanna, born on 20 February 1988, made it into the Dragon year by just three days.
Useful Chinese vocabulary for the Year of the Dragon
Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
龙 (龍) | lóng | dragon |
龙年 (龍年) | lóngnián | Year of the Dragon |
属龙 (屬龍) | shǔ lóng | to be born in a Dragon year |
龙的传人 (龍的傳人) | lóng de chuánrén | descendants of the dragon (the Chinese people) |
龙舟 (龍舟) | lóngzhōu | dragon boat |
恐龙 (恐龍) | kǒnglóng | dinosaur ("terror dragon") |
水龙头 (水龍頭) | shuǐlóngtóu | water tap ("water dragon head") |
龙虾 (龍蝦) | lóngxiā | lobster ("dragon shrimp") |
望子成龙 (望子成龍) | wàng zǐ chéng lóng | hoping your son becomes a dragon: high hopes for your children |
画龙点睛 (畫龍點睛) | huà lóng diǎn jīng | painting in the dragon's eyes: the finishing touch that brings something to life |
Example sentences
- 我儿子是2024年出生的，他属龙。 Wǒ érzi shì èr líng èr sì nián chūshēng de, tā shǔ lóng. My son was born in 2024, so he's a Dragon.
- 水龙头坏了，一直在滴水。 Shuǐlóngtóu huài le, yìzhí zài dī shuǐ. The tap is broken, it keeps dripping.
- 这个标题真是画龙点睛。 Zhège biāotí zhēn shì huà lóng diǎn jīng. This title is the perfect finishing touch.
龙 is one of the biggest gaps between simplified and traditional characters: 5 strokes versus 16 for 龍. If you learn traditional characters, practise this one slowly with our stroke order tool.
Taiwan note: Taipei's 龍山寺 Lóngshān Sì (Longshan Temple), in the Wanhua district, is one of the city's busiest temples and is packed at Chinese New Year. In June, Taiwan's rivers fill with dragon boats for 端午節, with big races in Taipei, Lukang and Yilan.
Frequently asked questions
Which years are Dragon years? 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024 and 2036. Each one starts on Chinese New Year.
When is the next Year of the Dragon? From 28 January 2036 to 14 February 2037.
I was born on 25 January 2025. Am I a Dragon? Yes. The 2024 Dragon year ran until 28 January 2025.
What element is my Dragon year? Earth (1928, 1988), Metal (1940, 2000), Water (1952, 2012), Wood (1964, 2024) or Fire (1976, 2036).
What are the Dragon's lucky numbers? 1, 6 and 7. 3 and 8 are considered unlucky for Dragons.
What are the Dragon's lucky colours? Gold, silver and greyish white. Blue and green are best avoided.
Who is the Dragon most compatible with? The Rooster (secret friends), the Rat and the Monkey (the same trio).
Which sign clashes with the Dragon? The Dog, its opposite on the zodiac wheel.
How do you say "I'm a Dragon" in Chinese? 我属龙 wǒ shǔ lóng.
Why is the Dragon the luckiest sign? It was the symbol of the emperor, controls life-giving rain in Chinese myth, and stands for power and success. Many parents in Chinese-speaking communities plan for a Dragon baby.