Chinese Zodiac Signs十二生肖

What Is the Chinese Zodiac?什麼是十二生肖？

The Chinese Zodiac (生肖, Sheng Xiao) is a 12-year cycle in which each year is represented by an animal. Unlike Western astrology, which changes signs monthly, the Chinese zodiac changes once per year, tied to the Chinese lunar new year (usually late January or early February).十二生肖（Sheng Xiao）是一個 12 年的循環，每年由一種動物代表。與每月更換星座的西洋占星不同，十二生肖每年更換一次，並與農曆新年（通常在 1 月底或 2 月初）掛鉤。

The 12 animals, in order, are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Each animal carries distinct personality traits, lucky elements, and compatibility patterns.12 生肖依序為：鼠、牛、虎、兔、龍、蛇、馬、羊、猴、雞、狗、豬。每種動物都帶有獨特的性格特質、幸運五行與相配模式。

In the broader system of Bazi (Four Pillars of Energy), the zodiac animal corresponds to the Earthly Branch of your birth year. But your full Bazi chart also includes animal signs for your month, day, and hour — giving you four zodiac influences, not just one.在更廣泛的八字（四柱）系統中，生肖對應你出生年份的地支。但你的完整八字命盤還包含出生月、日、時的生肖——讓你擁有四種生肖影響，而非僅有一個。

The 12 Chinese Zodiac Animals十二生肖

Zodiac Animals and the Five Elements生肖與五行

Each zodiac animal also carries one of the Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water). This means there are actually 60 variations of the zodiac (12 animals × 5 elements). For example, a Wood Dragon (2024) is different from a Fire Dragon, Metal Dragon, and so on.每個生肖還對應著五行（木、火、土、金、水）之一。這意味著生肖實際上共有 60 種變化（12 生肖 × 5 五行）。例如，木龍（2024 年）就與火龍、金龍等截然不同。

Zodiac Compatibility生肖配對

In Chinese astrology, certain animal combinations are naturally harmonious while others tend to clash. The compatibility system is based on the Earthly Branches relationships:在中國占星學中，某些生肖組合天然相合，而其他組合則容易相沖。相配度系統是基於地支的關係：

Best Matches (Three Harmonies)最佳配對（三合）

Clashing Pairs (Six Conflicts)相沖組合（六沖）

Note: Compatibility in real Bazi analysis is far more nuanced. Your year animal is only one of four pillars. A full Bazi chart reading compares all four pillars, the Five Elements balance, and the Day Master compatibility for a complete picture.註：在實際的八字分析中，合婚與相配程度要微妙得多。您的生肖年僅是四柱之一。完整的八字命盤解析會比較全部四柱、五行平衡以及日主相配程度，以提供完整的全貌。

The Zodiac Legend生肖傳說

According to Chinese mythology, the Jade Emperor declared that the zodiac order would be determined by a great race across a river. The Rat, small but clever, rode on the Ox's back and jumped off at the last moment to win first place. The Ox, patient and steady, earned second. The Tiger struggled against the current for third, followed by the Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and finally the Pig, who stopped to eat along the way.根據中國神話，玉皇大帝宣布生肖順序將由一場跨河的大賽來決定。老鼠雖小卻很聰明，騎在牛背上並在最後一刻跳下獲得第一名。牛忍耐而穩重，獲得第二名。老虎奮力抵抗水流拿到第三名，緊接著是兔、龍、蛇、馬、羊、猴、雞、狗，最後是豬，牠在途中停下來吃東西。

This legend is more than a children's story — it encodes the personality of each animal: the Rat's cunning, the Ox's diligence, the Tiger's courage, and the Pig's love of pleasure.這個傳說不只是一個兒童故事——它密碼般記錄了每個生肖的性格：鼠的機敏、牛的勤奮、虎的勇敢以及豬的享樂。

Chinese Zodiac vs. Western Zodiac十二生肖對比西洋星座

The Western zodiac has 12 signs based on the sun's position relative to constellations, changing monthly. The Chinese zodiac has 12 animals based on the Earthly Branches of the Chinese calendar, changing yearly. Both systems share the number 12 and both describe personality archetypes, but they use entirely different frameworks.西洋星座有 12 個星座，依據太陽相對於星座的位置而定，每月更替。中國十二生肖有 12 種動物，依據農曆的地支而定，每年更替。兩種系統都擁有 12 這個數字，且都描述了性格原型，但它們採用截然不同的框架。

Many people enjoy comparing their Western and Chinese signs for a richer self-portrait. For the most complete picture, a full Bazi chart includes not just your year animal, but also your month, day, and hour animals.許多人喜歡比較自己的西洋星座與生肖，以獲得更豐富的自我剖析。若要獲得最完整的全貌，完整的八字命盤不僅包含您的年柱生肖，還包含您的月柱、日柱和時柱生肖。

Lucky Elements by Zodiac Sign生肖幸運五行

Each zodiac animal has associated lucky numbers, colors, and directions based on its elemental nature:每個生肖根據其五行屬性，都有相對應的幸運數字、顏色與方位：

For a deeper analysis that combines your zodiac sign with your full Five Elements balance and Yin Yang polarity, try our free Bazi calculator.想結合您的生肖與完整的五行平衡及陰陽屬性進行更深入的分析，歡迎使用我們的免費八字測算工具。