Year of the Ox 牛

The Ox is sign 2 of the twelve-animal Chinese zodiac cycle. Recent and upcoming Ox years include 1997, 2009, 2021, 2033 — but remember the animal changes at Lunar New Year, not on January 1, so January and early-February birthdays may belong to the previous sign.

Ox years

Between 1940 and 2035 the Year of the Ox falls in: 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021, 2033. Each of those years also carries an element from the ten-year Heavenly Stem cycle, so no two Ox years in a row are quite the same flavour — a full animal-and-element combination repeats only every 60 years. Check any single year, for example born in 2021, for its exact pairing.

Ox personality

Patient, honest and stubborn in the best way, the Ox gets things done by simply refusing to stop. Oxen value routine and loyalty, build slowly, and rarely say anything they do not mean.

Lucky numbers and colours

In the tradition this site follows, the Ox's lucky numbers are 1 and 9 and its lucky colours are red, blue, purple. Treat these as the fun part of the reading — a nudge for a jersey number or a notebook colour, not a strategy.

Ox compatibility

Traditionally harmonious with Snake and Rooster, and dependable with Rat. Goat, the opposite sign, may test the Ox's patience. You can test any pairing on the 12×12 compatibility matrix.

Famous Oxs

Well-known people born in a Year of the Ox include Walt Disney (born 1901) and Barack Obama (born 1961) — listed by birth year only, which is all the zodiac claims about them.

Not sure if you're a Ox?

Birthdays near Lunar New Year are the classic trap. Use the finder on the homepage with your exact birth date, or check the New Year dates table for your year.

Explore the other animals

Zodiac Sign Finder is for entertainment. Astrology is a tradition of stories and symbols, not a science — enjoy your reading the way you'd enjoy a fortune cookie: lightly.