Year of the Rabbit兔年 tù nián · the fourth animal of the Chinese zodiac
Quick facts
- Position
- 4 of 12
- Zodiac name
- 兔 tù - Rabbit
- Everyday word
- 兔子 tùzi
- “Year of the Rabbit”
- 兔年 tù nián
- Earthly Branch
- 卯 mǎo
- Hours of the day
- 5 am – 7 am
- Yin or yang
- Yin
- Next Rabbit year
- 2035 (8 February 2035 - 27 January 2036)
Year of the Rabbit 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1903 | 29 Jan 1903 | 15 Feb 1904 | Water |
| 1915 | 14 Feb 1915 | 2 Feb 1916 | Wood |
| 1927 | 2 Feb 1927 | 22 Jan 1928 | Fire |
| 1939 | 19 Feb 1939 | 7 Feb 1940 | Earth |
| 1951 | 6 Feb 1951 | 26 Jan 1952 | Metal |
| 1963 | 25 Jan 1963 | 12 Feb 1964 | Water |
| 1975 | 11 Feb 1975 | 30 Jan 1976 | Wood |
| 1987 | 29 Jan 1987 | 16 Feb 1988 | Fire |
| 1999 | 16 Feb 1999 | 4 Feb 2000 | Earth |
| 2011 | 3 Feb 2011 | 22 Jan 2012 | Metal |
| 2023 | 22 Jan 2023 | 9 Feb 2024 | Water |
| 2035 | 8 Feb 2035 | 27 Jan 2036 | Wood |
| 2047 | 26 Jan 2047 | 13 Feb 2048 | Fire |
How to say Year of the Rabbit 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?).
Rabbit personality: what the sign stands for
People born in a Year of the Rabbit are traditionally described as gentle, careful and kind, with good taste and a dislike of conflict.
Said to be
- gentle
- careful
- kind
- tactful
Said to watch out for
- over-cautious
- avoids conflict
These are traditional beliefs, shared for fun and for cultural background. They are not predictions.
The Rabbit in the Great Race
In the Great Race the Rabbit crossed the river by hopping from stone to stone and then floating on a log. It reached the bank in fourth place.
The Rabbit in Chinese culture
Chinese legend says a rabbit lives on the moon. The 玉兔 (yùtù, Jade Rabbit) keeps the goddess Chang'e company and pounds the elixir of life, and it appears on mooncake boxes every Mid-Autumn Festival. China's lunar rovers are named 玉兔 after it.
The everyday word for the animal is 兔子 (tùzi).
Chinese idioms with 兔
守株待兔
shǒu zhū dài tù
"waiting by a tree stump for a rabbit"
Hoping for luck to repeat itself instead of doing the work.
狡兔三窟
jiǎo tù sān kū
"a clever rabbit has three burrows"
A smart person always has a backup plan.
Rabbit 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 Rabbit?
Recent and coming Years of the Rabbit are 1999, 2011, 2023, 2035, 2047. 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 Rabbit?
The next Year of the Rabbit runs from 8 February 2035 to 27 January 2036.
How do you say Year of the Rabbit in Chinese?
It is 兔年 (tù nián). To say you were born in that year, say 我属兔 (wǒ shǔ tù).
Is the Year of the Rabbit the same as the Year of the Cat?
In the Vietnamese zodiac the fourth animal is the Cat, so the same year is called the Year of the Cat in Vietnam. In China, Korea and Japan it is the Rabbit.