Year of the Rooster 鸡

The Rooster is the tenth animal of the Chinese zodiac and its alarm clock. Proud, punctual and hardworking, it wakes the world every morning and chases away the spirits of the night. In Chinese, its name even sounds like "good luck".

In this guide you'll find the exact dates of every Rooster year, what the Rooster means in Chinese culture, the personality traits tradition gives it, its lucky signs and best matches, famous people born in Rooster years, and the Mandarin you need to talk about it.

Key takeaways

• The next Year of the Rooster runs from 13 February 2029 to 2 February 2030 (an Earth Rooster year).
• Rooster years: 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029, 2041. Each starts on Chinese New Year.
• The Rooster stands for punctuality, courage, honesty and good fortune.
• Tradition describes Roosters as confident, honest and organised, but also blunt.
• Best matches: Dragon, Ox and Snake. Classic clash: Rabbit.

When is the next Year of the Rooster?

The most recent Rooster year ran from 28 January 2017 to 15 February 2018. The next one starts on 13 February 2029 and ends on 2 February 2030.

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. Catherine, Princess of Wales, was born on 9 January 1982, which makes her a Rooster, not a Dog: the 1981 Rooster year lasted until 24 January 1982.

Year of the Rooster dates

Each Rooster year also carries one of the Five Elements (五行 wǔxíng), which change every two years. The Rooster's own natural element is Metal, so 1981 and 2041, Metal Rooster years, are considered the most typically "Rooster".

What does the Rooster mean in Chinese culture?

鸡 jī · chicken, rooster (traditional: 雞)

In the Great Race, the Rooster spotted a raft, and together with the Goat and the Monkey it made its way across the river, finishing tenth. Practical, observant and organised: the Rooster's reputation in one scene.

The rooster has always had a special job in Chinese culture. Its crow announces the sunrise, and folk belief says it drives away ghosts and evil spirits that roam at night. Images of roosters were once pasted on doors at New Year for protection.

An ancient Chinese text even credits the rooster with five virtues (鸡有五德 jī yǒu wǔ dé): culture (its crest looks like an official's hat), martial spirit (its spurs), courage (it fights fearlessly), kindness (it calls the hens when it finds food) and trustworthiness (it crows on time every morning).

And there's the pun. 鸡 jī sounds like 吉 jí, "lucky" or "auspicious". That's one reason a whole chicken is on almost every Chinese New Year table, served with head and feet to symbolise a good beginning and end. China's top film prize is even called the Golden Rooster Award (金鸡奖 Jīnjī Jiǎng).

Personality traits of people born in the Year of the Rooster

In Chinese tradition, your zodiac animal is said to shape your character. It's cultural heritage rather than science, and Roosters will tell you exactly what they think of it.

Strengths

Confident. Roosters walk into a room like they belong there.

Honest. They say what they think, clearly and directly.

Organised. Lists, plans, schedules: Roosters love structure and get things done.

Hardworking. Up early and focused, they put in the effort.

Observant. No detail escapes a Rooster.

Challenges

Blunt. Their honesty can hurt, even when it's meant well.

Perfectionist. Roosters can be hard on themselves and on others.

Vain. They care a lot about appearances and how they're seen.

Critical. A Rooster notices what's wrong before what's right.

Argumentative. They like being right and will defend their view.

Rooster quick facts

酉 started as a drawing of a wine jar. As a radical it appears in characters about alcohol and fermentation: 酒 jiǔ (alcohol), 醉 zuì (drunk), 醋 cù (vinegar). Fitting that the Rooster's hours are 5 to 7 pm, just in time for a drink.

Lucky signs for the Rooster

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.

The Rooster is one of the few signs for whom red, the luckiest colour in Chinese culture, is on the unlucky list.

Rooster 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).

Zodiac compatibility is tradition, not a rule. But a Rooster will probably still bring it up in an argument.

Famous people born in the Year of the Rooster

Useful Chinese vocabulary for the Year of the Rooster

Example sentences

1. 我属鸡，每天早上六点就起床。 Wǒ shǔ jī, měitiān zǎoshang liù diǎn jiù qǐchuáng. I'm a Rooster, I get up at six every morning.
2. 我们俩说话就像鸡同鸭讲。 Wǒmen liǎ shuōhuà jiù xiàng jī tóng yā jiǎng. When we talk, it's like a chicken talking to a duck.
3. 听到这个故事，我起了一身鸡皮疙瘩。 Tīngdào zhège gùshi, wǒ qǐle yì shēn jīpí gēda. Hearing that story gave me goosebumps all over.

Taiwan note: 雞排 jīpái, the giant fried chicken cutlet, is a night market icon in Taiwan, often bigger than your face. Order it 不要切 bú yào qiē ("don't cut it") for the full experience.

Frequently asked questions

Which years are Rooster years? 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029 and 2041. Each one starts on Chinese New Year.

When is the next Year of the Rooster? From 13 February 2029 to 2 February 2030.

I was born on 1 February 2005. Am I a Rooster? No, you're a Monkey. The Rooster year started on 9 February 2005.

What element is my Rooster year? Water (1933, 1993), Wood (1945, 2005), Fire (1957, 2017), Earth (1969, 2029) or Metal (1981, 2041).

What are the Rooster's lucky numbers? 5, 7 and 8. 1, 3 and 9 are seen as unlucky.

What are the Rooster's lucky colours? Gold, brown and yellow. Red is the one to avoid.

Who is the Rooster most compatible with? The Dragon (secret friends), the Ox and the Snake (the same trio).

Which sign clashes with the Rooster? The Rabbit, its opposite on the zodiac wheel.

How do you say "I'm a Rooster" in Chinese? 我属鸡 wǒ shǔ jī.

Why is chicken eaten at Chinese New Year? 鸡 jī sounds like 吉 jí, "lucky", and a whole chicken symbolises family unity and a good start to the year.