Year of the Ox
The ox (牛, niú) is the second animal in the Chinese zodiac's 12-year cycle. Recent ox years include 1985, 1997, 2009 and 2021; the most recent ran from Feb 12, 2021 to Jan 31, 2022, and the next begins on Jan 31, 2033. An ox year runs from one Chinese New Year to the eve of the next, so it never matches the calendar year exactly.
Exact ox year dates
Each ox year starts on Chinese New Year and ends the day before the next Chinese New Year.
| ox year | Gregorian date range |
|---|---|
| 1949 | Jan 29, 1949 – Feb 16, 1950 |
| 1961 | Feb 15, 1961 – Feb 4, 1962 |
| 1973 | Feb 3, 1973 – Jan 22, 1974 |
| 1985 | Feb 20, 1985 – Feb 8, 1986 |
| 1997 | Feb 7, 1997 – Jan 27, 1998 |
| 2009 | Jan 26, 2009 – Feb 13, 2010 |
| 2021 | Feb 12, 2021 – Jan 31, 2022 |
Born in January or February? Check the boundary
The 2021 ox year did not start until Feb 12, 2021: anyone born between January 1, 2021 and Feb 11, 2021 is a rat, not an ox. And because the ox year ran into 2022, babies born between January 1, 2022 and Jan 31, 2022 are still oxen rather than tigers. Any January or early-February birthday needs the exact Chinese New Year date from the table above.
This site uses the Chinese New Year boundary convention — read how the zodiac year boundary works on the calculator page.
Am I a ox?
Enter your full birth date and the calculator will apply the exact Chinese New Year boundary for your birth year.
Check my zodiac animalThe ox in Chinese culture
No animal worked harder in Chinese history than the ox: it plowed the fields that fed the country, and it became the standing symbol of diligence, endurance and honest toil. The phrase 老黄牛 ("old yellow ox") is still used to praise someone who works quietly and reliably without seeking credit, and the writer Lu Xun's line about "bowing my head like a willing ox" made the image a byword for selfless service.
The ox also stars in one of China's most loved romances: the cowherd Niulang of 牛郎织女 (the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl), whose faithful old ox helps him marry a heavenly weaver before the lovers are separated across the Milky Way. People born in ox years are traditionally described as dependable, patient and strong-willed — these are cultural beliefs about the sign, not facts about any individual.
Ox idioms (成语) featuring 牛
九牛一毛 jiǔ niú yī máo
Literally: one hair from nine oxen.
a drop in the bucket; something so small it barely registers against the whole.
汗牛充栋 hàn niú chōng dòng
Literally: enough to make oxen sweat and fill a house.
an immense number of books; a vast collection.
牛刀小试 niú dāo xiǎo shì
Literally: a small trial of an ox cleaver.
a master showing a small sample of real ability on a minor task.
Year of the Ox FAQ
Was 2021 the year of the ox?
Yes, from Feb 12, 2021. The ox year ran from Feb 12, 2021 to Jan 31, 2022. Anyone born in January or early February 2021, before Chinese New Year, is a rat rather than an ox.
I was born in January 1997 — am I an ox or a rat?
It depends on the day. Chinese New Year 1997 fell on Feb 7, 1997: born on or after it you are an ox, born between January 1 and Feb 6, 1997 you are a rat. The calculator on this site applies the exact boundary for you.
What does the ox represent in Chinese culture?
Diligence, endurance and unshowy reliability. The ox plowed China's fields for millennia, and the phrase 老黄牛 ("old yellow ox") still praises people who work hard without complaint. The cowherd's loyal ox in the folk tale 牛郎织女 adds a note of faithfulness.
When is the next year of the ox?
The next ox year is 2033, beginning on Chinese New Year, Jan 31, 2033, and running until Feb 18, 2034. Ox years repeat every 12 years: 1985, 1997, 2009 and 2021.