Year of the Goat羊年 yáng nián · the eighth animal of the Chinese zodiac
Quick facts
- Position
- 8 of 12
- Zodiac name
- 羊 yáng - Goat (Sheep)
- Everyday word
- 山羊 shānyáng
- “Year of the Goat”
- 羊年 yáng nián
- Earthly Branch
- 未 wèi
- Hours of the day
- 1 pm – 3 pm
- Yin or yang
- Yin
- Next Goat year
- 2027 (6 February 2027 - 25 January 2028)
Year of the Goat years and dates
Each zodiac year starts at Chinese New Year and ends the day before the next one. If you were born in January or February, check the dates below or use the Chinese Zodiac Calculator.
| Year | Starts | Ends | Element |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1907 | 13 Feb 1907 | 1 Feb 1908 | Fire |
| 1919 | 1 Feb 1919 | 19 Feb 1920 | Earth |
| 1931 | 17 Feb 1931 | 5 Feb 1932 | Metal |
| 1943 | 5 Feb 1943 | 24 Jan 1944 | Water |
| 1955 | 24 Jan 1955 | 11 Feb 1956 | Wood |
| 1967 | 9 Feb 1967 | 29 Jan 1968 | Fire |
| 1979 | 28 Jan 1979 | 15 Feb 1980 | Earth |
| 1991 | 15 Feb 1991 | 3 Feb 1992 | Metal |
| 2003 | 1 Feb 2003 | 21 Jan 2004 | Water |
| 2015 | 19 Feb 2015 | 7 Feb 2016 | Wood |
| 2027 | 6 Feb 2027 | 25 Jan 2028 | Fire |
| 2039 | 24 Jan 2039 | 11 Feb 2040 | Earth |
How to say Year of the Goat in Chinese
To give your own sign, say 我属 (wǒ shǔ, “I belong to”) plus the animal. To ask someone else, say 你属什么？ (nǐ shǔ shénme?).
Goat personality: what the sign stands for
People born in a Year of the Goat are traditionally described as gentle, creative and considerate, happiest in a calm and friendly group.
Said to be
- gentle
- creative
- considerate
- patient
Said to watch out for
- indecisive
- easily worried
These are traditional beliefs, shared for fun and for cultural background. They are not predictions.
The Goat in the Great Race
In the Great Race the Goat, the Monkey and the Rooster worked together. The Rooster found a raft, and the Goat and the Monkey cleared the weeds and pushed it across. The Jade Emperor was pleased with their teamwork and gave the Goat eighth place.
The Goat in Chinese culture
2027 is a Fire Goat year, written 丁未 (dīng wèi) in the traditional sixty-year cycle. The last one was 1967.
The character 羊 (yáng) covers goats, sheep and rams: a goat is 山羊 (shānyáng, “mountain yáng”) and a sheep is 绵羊 (miányáng, “cotton yáng”). In old texts 羊 was also written for 祥 (xiáng, “lucky”), so the animal is a sign of good fortune.
For greetings, see Happy Year of the Goat in Chinese.
Chinese idioms with 羊
亡羊补牢
wáng yáng bǔ láo
"mending the pen after a sheep is lost"
It is not too late to fix a problem after something has gone wrong.
三羊开泰
sān yáng kāi tài
"three goats bring good fortune"
A New Year wish for Goat years. It is a pun on 三阳开泰, a classical phrase for the return of spring.
Goat compatibility in tradition
Traditional matchmaking groups the twelve animals by their Earthly Branches. These pairings are folk tradition, not science. To check any two signs, use the Chinese Zodiac Compatibility chart.
Your own zodiac year is called 本命年 (běnmìngnián). Tradition says it can bring bad luck, so people wear something red for protection.
The other zodiac animals
Find your animal with the Chinese Zodiac CalculatorFrequently asked questions
What years are the Year of the Goat?
Recent and coming Years of the Goat are 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027, 2039. Each one starts at Chinese New Year, so January and early February birthdays usually belong to the year before.
When is the next Year of the Goat?
The next Year of the Goat runs from 6 February 2027 to 25 January 2028.
How do you say Year of the Goat in Chinese?
It is 羊年 (yáng nián). To say you were born in that year, say 我属羊 (wǒ shǔ yáng).
Is it the Year of the Goat, the Sheep or the Ram?
All three are correct. The Chinese word 羊 (yáng) covers goats, sheep and rams, so English translations vary.