Year of the Snake蛇年 shé nián · the sixth animal of the Chinese zodiac
Quick facts
- Position
- 6 of 12
- Zodiac name
- 蛇 shé - Snake
- “Year of the Snake”
- 蛇年 shé nián
- Earthly Branch
- 巳 sì
- Hours of the day
- 9 am – 11 am
- Yin or yang
- Yin
- Next Snake year
- 2037 (15 February 2037 - 3 February 2038)
Year of the Snake 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1905 | 4 Feb 1905 | 24 Jan 1906 | Wood |
| 1917 | 23 Jan 1917 | 10 Feb 1918 | Fire |
| 1929 | 10 Feb 1929 | 29 Jan 1930 | Earth |
| 1941 | 27 Jan 1941 | 14 Feb 1942 | Metal |
| 1953 | 14 Feb 1953 | 2 Feb 1954 | Water |
| 1965 | 2 Feb 1965 | 20 Jan 1966 | Wood |
| 1977 | 18 Feb 1977 | 6 Feb 1978 | Fire |
| 1989 | 6 Feb 1989 | 26 Jan 1990 | Earth |
| 2001 | 24 Jan 2001 | 11 Feb 2002 | Metal |
| 2013 | 10 Feb 2013 | 30 Jan 2014 | Water |
| 2025 | 29 Jan 2025 | 16 Feb 2026 | Wood |
| 2037 | 15 Feb 2037 | 3 Feb 2038 | Fire |
| 2049 | 2 Feb 2049 | 22 Jan 2050 | Earth |
How to say Year of the Snake 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?).
Snake personality: what the sign stands for
People born in a Year of the Snake are traditionally described as wise, calm and intuitive, thinking carefully before they act.
Said to be
- wise
- calm
- intuitive
- determined
Said to watch out for
- private
- slow to trust
These are traditional beliefs, shared for fun and for cultural background. They are not predictions.
The Snake in the Great Race
In the Great Race the Snake hid by wrapping itself around the Horse's leg. Just before the finish it slid out, the startled Horse jumped back, and the Snake took sixth place.
The Snake in Chinese culture
Because it comes right after the Dragon, the Snake is politely called 小龙 (xiǎo lóng), the “little dragon.” Many people prefer to say 我属小龙 rather than 我属蛇.
The best-known snake in Chinese culture is the heroine of 白蛇传 (Bái Shé Zhuàn, The Legend of the White Snake), a snake spirit who falls in love with a young man in Hangzhou.
Chinese idioms with 蛇
画蛇添足
huà shé tiān zú
"drawing a snake and adding feet"
Spoiling something by adding what is not needed.
打草惊蛇
dǎ cǎo jīng shé
"beating the grass and startling the snake"
Acting carelessly and alerting the person you wanted to catch.
Snake 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 Snake?
Recent and coming Years of the Snake are 2001, 2013, 2025, 2037, 2049. 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 Snake?
The next Year of the Snake runs from 15 February 2037 to 3 February 2038.
How do you say Year of the Snake in Chinese?
It is 蛇年 (shé nián). To say you were born in that year, say 我属蛇 (wǒ shǔ shé).