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Year of the Ox: Personality, Years, Elements and Compatibility
Quick answer: the Ox (牛, Earthly Branch 丑) is sign 2 of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals. Recent Ox years are 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021, and the next is 2033. Oxen are known for being dependable and loyal. Best matches: Snake, Rooster and Rat.
The Ox is the zodiac's steady worker. In the Great Race it was strong and early, but the Rat rode on its back and slipped ahead, so the Ox finished second without complaint. Patience and reliability are its signature.
Your year animal is one of eight characters in your birth chart. See your full Four Pillars and Day Master, free.
Get your free reading性格Ox personality
| Strengths | Watch out for |
|---|---|
| Dependable and loyal | Stubborn once decided |
| Patient and hard-working | Slow to open up |
| Calm under pressure | Resists sudden change |
| Builds results that last |
In love. Oxen love quietly and for the long term. They show it through steadiness, keeping promises and building a secure home, and they value a partner who is honest and consistent rather than dramatic.
At work. Oxen do well in roles that reward persistence and skill: engineering, finance, medicine, agriculture, craftsmanship and management of complex projects.
年份Year of the Ox: every year and exact dates
Each Ox year starts on Chinese New Year and ends the day before the next one. Born in January or early February? Check the dates below, or use the Chinese zodiac calculator.
| Year | Type | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| 1925 | Wood Ox (乙丑) | Jan 24, 1925 – Feb 12, 1926 |
| 1937 | Fire Ox (丁丑) | Feb 11, 1937 – Jan 30, 1938 |
| 1949 | Earth Ox (己丑) | Jan 29, 1949 – Feb 16, 1950 |
| 1961 | Metal Ox (辛丑) | Feb 15, 1961 – Feb 4, 1962 |
| 1973 | Water Ox (癸丑) | Feb 3, 1973 – Jan 22, 1974 |
| 1985 | Wood Ox (乙丑) | Feb 20, 1985 – Feb 8, 1986 |
| 1997 | Fire Ox (丁丑) | Feb 7, 1997 – Jan 27, 1998 |
| 2009 | Earth Ox (己丑) | Jan 26, 2009 – Feb 13, 2010 |
| 2021 | Metal Ox (辛丑) | Feb 12, 2021 – Jan 31, 2022 |
| 2033 | Water Ox (癸丑) | Jan 31, 2033 – Feb 18, 2034 |
五行The five types of Ox
The Ox comes back every 12 years, but with a different element each time, so the same element and animal repeat every 60 years. The element shades the personality:
Wood Ox: 1925, 1985
Wood adds warmth, growth and a cooperative streak, so the Ox of a Wood year tends to be generous, idealistic and good with people.
Fire Ox: 1937, 1997
Fire adds passion and drive, so the Ox of a Fire year tends to be bolder, more expressive and quicker to act than other Oxen.
Earth Ox: 1949, 2009
Earth adds stability and realism, so the Ox of an Earth year tends to be steadier, more practical and more patient than other Oxen.
Metal Ox: 1961, 2021
Metal adds determination and strength of will, so the Ox of a Metal year tends to be focused, principled and hard to discourage.
Water Ox: 1973, 2033
Water adds intuition and flexibility, so the Ox of a Water year tends to be perceptive, diplomatic and good at adapting.
See the Chinese zodiac elements table for every year.
合婚Ox compatibility with all 12 signs
| Pair | Type | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 鼠 Ox & Rat | Secret Friends (Six Harmony) | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| 牛 Ox & Ox | Same Sign | ★★★★ (4/5) |
| 虎 Ox & Tiger | Neutral Match | ★★★ (3/5) |
| 兔 Ox & Rabbit | Neutral Match | ★★★ (3/5) |
| 龙 Ox & Dragon | Neutral Match | ★★★½ (3.5/5) |
| 蛇 Ox & Snake | Natural Allies (Metal Trine) | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| 马 Ox & Horse | Harm Pair | ★★ (2/5) |
| 羊 Ox & Goat | Opposites (Clash) | ★½ (1.5/5) |
| 猴 Ox & Monkey | Neutral Match | ★★★½ (3.5/5) |
| 鸡 Ox & Rooster | Natural Allies (Metal Trine) | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| 狗 Ox & Dog | Punishment Pattern | ★★½ (2.5/5) |
| 猪 Ox & Pig | Neutral Match | ★★★ (3/5) |
Ratings follow classical relationships between the Earthly Branches: trine and Six Harmony pairs are the best matches, the clash sign is the most challenging. See the full compatibility chart.
地支The Ox in BaZi: Earthly Branch 丑
| Earthly Branch | 丑 (Chou) |
|---|---|
| Fixed element · polarity | Earth · Yin |
| Hour | 1 am – 3 am |
| Solar month | about Jan 6 – Feb 3 |
| Direction · season | North-northeast · late winter |
| Hidden stems | 己 Ji Earth · 癸 Gui Water · 辛 Xin Metal |
In a BaZi chart the Ox can appear in any of the four pillars: the year (your generation), the month, the day or the hour. The hidden stems are the elements stored inside the branch, which is why two people with the same year animal can have very different charts.
流年The Ox in 2027
2027 is the Year of the Fire Goat. For the Ox: Clash with Tai Sui (丑未相冲). A year of movement, so choose the change. Read the Year of the Ox 2027 forecast.
问答Questions about the Year of the Ox
What years are the Year of the Ox?
Recent Ox years are 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021. The next Year of the Ox is 2033, starting January 31, 2033. Each year begins at Chinese New Year, so people born in January or early February may belong to the previous sign.
What is the Ox's personality?
Oxen are known for being dependable and loyal, patient and hard-working and calm under pressure. Their weak spots: stubborn once decided; slow to open up; resists sudden change.
Who is the Ox most compatible with?
The Ox's best matches are the Snake and Rooster (its trine) and the Rat (its secret friend). The most challenging match is the Goat, the sign directly opposite.
What element is the Ox?
The Ox's fixed element is Earth and it is a Yin sign. Each Ox year also has its own element from the Heavenly Stem, so there are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water Oxen.
What time of day is the Ox?
The Ox rules the double hour from 1 am – 3 am. In a BaZi chart, people born in that window have the Ox in their hour pillar.
See which element balances your chart and what your Day Master says about you. Free reading.
Get your free readingRat · Ox · Tiger · Rabbit · Dragon · Snake · Horse · Goat · Monkey · Rooster · Dog · Pig