The Ox is the second animal of the Chinese zodiac: strong, patient and dependable. For thousands of years it pulled the plough in Chinese fields, and its character in the zodiac reflects that. Hard work, honesty and steady progress.
In this guide you'll find the exact dates of every Ox year, what the Ox means in Chinese culture, the personality traits tradition gives it, its lucky signs and best matches, famous people born in Ox years, and the Mandarin you need to talk about it.
Key takeaways
- The next Year of the Ox runs from 31 January 2033 to 18 February 2034 (a Water Ox year).
- Ox years: 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021, 2033. Each starts on Chinese New Year.
- The Ox stands for diligence, reliability and prosperity earned through hard work.
- Tradition describes Oxen as patient, honest and calm, but also stubborn.
- Best matches: Rat, Snake and Rooster. Classic clash: Goat.
When is the next Year of the Ox?
The most recent Ox year ran from 12 February 2021 to 31 January 2022. The next one starts on 31 January 2033 and ends on 18 February 2034.
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. Someone born on 20 January 2022 is an Ox, because the Tiger year only began on 1 February 2022. And many people born in early 1985 are surprised to learn they're Rats: the Ox year only started on 20 February that year.
Year of the Ox dates
Year | Starts | Ends | Element |
|---|---|---|---|
1925 | 24 Jan 1925 | 12 Feb 1926 | Wood Ox |
1937 | 11 Feb 1937 | 30 Jan 1938 | Fire Ox |
1949 | 29 Jan 1949 | 16 Feb 1950 | Earth Ox |
1961 | 15 Feb 1961 | 4 Feb 1962 | Metal Ox |
1973 | 3 Feb 1973 | 22 Jan 1974 | Water Ox |
1985 | 20 Feb 1985 | 8 Feb 1986 | Wood Ox |
1997 | 7 Feb 1997 | 27 Jan 1998 | Fire Ox |
2009 | 26 Jan 2009 | 13 Feb 2010 | Earth Ox |
2021 | 12 Feb 2021 | 31 Jan 2022 | Metal Ox |
2033 | 31 Jan 2033 | 18 Feb 2034 | Water Ox |
Each Ox year also carries one of the Five Elements (五行 wǔxíng), which change every two years. Tradition says a Fire Ox (1997) is more passionate and outspoken, while an Earth Ox (2009) is the most down-to-earth of all, which is saying something for an Ox.
What does the Ox mean in Chinese culture?
牛 niú · ox, cow, cattle
In the Great Race, the Ox was the strongest swimmer and should have won. But it let the Rat ride across the river on its back, and the Rat jumped off at the last second to take first place. The Ox came second without complaint, which is exactly the character people give it.
For most of Chinese history, the ox (more often the water buffalo in the south) did the heaviest work on the farm. A family's ox was precious, and that respect still shows. Many older people in Taiwan and southern China don't eat beef at all, out of gratitude to the animal that worked their family's fields.
The ox also opened the farming year. On 立春 lìchūn, the start of spring in early February, officials and villagers used to "whip the spring ox" (鞭春牛 biān chūn niú): a clay ox was struck to wake up the soil and wish for a good harvest. And in the love story behind Qixi, the Chinese Valentine's Day, it's a wise old ox that helps the Cowherd (牛郎 Niúláng) reach the Weaver Girl in the sky.
Today 牛 has a second life in everyday slang, where it means "awesome" or "impressive". Not a bad sign to belong to.
Personality traits of people born in the Year of the Ox
In Chinese tradition, your zodiac animal is said to shape your character. It's cultural heritage rather than science, but you'll hear these descriptions from Chinese friends again and again.
Strengths
Diligent. Oxen work steadily and finish what they start, even when it's slow and boring.
Reliable. If an Ox says it will be done, it will be done.
Patient. They're willing to put in years for a long-term goal (very useful when learning Chinese).
Honest. Oxen dislike games and say what they mean.
Calm. In a crisis, the Ox is the one who doesn't panic.
Challenges
Stubborn. Once an Ox has decided, changing its mind takes a lot of convincing.
Resistant to change. New methods and surprises make Oxen uneasy.
Reserved. They rarely talk about their feelings, even with people close to them.
Workaholic. Their sense of duty can push rest and fun to the bottom of the list.
Slow to forgive. An Ox doesn't forget being treated unfairly.
Ox quick facts
Position | 2nd of 12 |
Earthly branch | 丑 chǒu |
Hours of the Ox | 1 am to 3 am |
Fixed element | Earth |
Yin or yang | Yin |
Zodiac trio (三合 sānhé) | Ox, Snake, Rooster |
In simplified Chinese, the Ox's branch 丑 chǒu looks identical to 丑 "ugly". In traditional characters they're different: 丑 for the branch, 醜 for ugly. Simplification merged two unrelated words.
Lucky signs for the Ox
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, 4 (and numbers containing them, like 14 and 41) | 5, 6 (and numbers containing them, like 56 and 65) |
Colours | White, yellow, green | Blue |
Flowers | Tulip, peach blossom | |
Directions | North, south | Southwest |
Ox 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 | Rat 鼠 | Secret friends (六合). The Rat's ideas and the Ox's persistence complete each other, as in the Great Race. |
Best match | Snake 蛇 | Same trio (三合). Both are calm, thoughtful and loyal once trust is earned. |
Best match | Rooster 鸡 | Same trio (三合). Two hard workers who value order and honesty. |
Challenging | Goat 羊 | Direct clash (六冲). The practical Ox and the dreamy Goat see life very differently. |
Challenging | Horse 马 | Harm pair (六害). The Horse wants freedom and speed, the Ox wants routine. |
Zodiac compatibility is tradition, not a rule. Plenty of Ox and Goat couples are doing just fine.
Famous people born in the Year of the Ox
Name | Known for | Born |
|---|---|---|
Meryl Streep | Actor | 1949 |
George Clooney | Actor and director | 1961 |
Princess Diana | Princess of Wales | 1961 |
Keira Knightley | Actor | 1985 |
Bruno Mars | Singer | 1985 |
Kylie Jenner | Entrepreneur | 1997 |
Useful Chinese vocabulary for the Year of the Ox
Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
牛 | niú | ox, cow, cattle |
牛年 | niúnián | Year of the Ox |
属牛 (屬牛) | shǔ niú | to be born in an Ox year |
很牛 | hěn niú | awesome, impressive (slang) |
吹牛 | chuīniú | to brag ("blow the ox") |
牛奶 | niúnǎi | milk ("cow milk") |
牛肉面 (牛肉麵) | niúròu miàn | beef noodle soup |
蜗牛 (蝸牛) | wōniú | snail ("shell ox") |
对牛弹琴 (對牛彈琴) | duì niú tán qín | to play the lute to an ox: talking to the wrong audience |
九牛一毛 | jiǔ niú yì máo | one hair from nine oxen: a drop in the ocean |
Example sentences
- 我属牛，2033年是我的本命年。 Wǒ shǔ niú, èr líng sān sān nián shì wǒ de běnmìngnián. I'm an Ox, so 2033 is my zodiac year.
- 你一个月就学会了五百个汉字？太牛了！ Nǐ yí ge yuè jiù xuéhuì le wǔbǎi ge Hànzì? Tài niú le! You learned 500 characters in one month? That's amazing!
- 别吹牛了，你根本不会游泳。 Bié chuīniú le, nǐ gēnběn bú huì yóuyǒng. Stop bragging, you can't even swim.
Taiwan note: 牛肉麵 is close to a national dish in Taiwan, and Taipei holds an annual beef noodle festival. Ask around, though, and you'll still meet older Taiwanese who won't touch beef out of respect for the ox.
Frequently asked questions
Which years are Ox years? 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021 and 2033. Each one starts on Chinese New Year.
When is the next Year of the Ox? From 31 January 2033 to 18 February 2034.
I was born on 20 January 2022. Am I an Ox? Yes. The 2021 Ox year ran until 31 January 2022.
What element is my Ox year? Wood (1925, 1985), Fire (1937, 1997), Earth (1949, 2009), Metal (1961, 2021) or Water (1973, 2033).
What are the Ox's lucky numbers? 1 and 4, and numbers containing them. 5 and 6 are seen as unlucky.
What are the Ox's lucky colours? White, yellow and green. Blue is the one to avoid.
Who is the Ox most compatible with? The Rat (secret friends), the Snake and the Rooster (the same trio).
Which sign clashes with the Ox? The Goat, its opposite on the zodiac wheel.
How do you say "I'm an Ox" in Chinese? 我属牛 wǒ shǔ niú.
Why does 牛 mean "awesome" in Chinese? The ox is strong and capable, and 牛 became slang for anything or anyone impressive. You'll hear 太牛了! all the time.