Year of the Dog tattoo
The Chinese zodiac Dog is 狗 (gǒu). It is the eleventh of the twelve animals, and people born in Dog years are loyal, sincere and protective.
gǒu
The Dog · Chinese zodiac
What 狗 means.
狗 is the everyday word for dog, an animal valued in China as a faithful guardian of the home.
- Character
- 狗dog
- Traditional
- Written the same in simplified and traditional Chinese
- Born in
- 属狗“born in the year of the Dog”
- Year branch
- 戌the Earthly Branch of Dog years
- Fixed element
- Earth 土
Years of the Dog
- 1946Fire Dog
- 1958Earth Dog
- 1970Metal Dog
- 1982Water Dog
- 1994Wood Dog
- 2006Fire Dog
- 2018Earth Dog
- 2030Metal Dog
- 2042Water Dog
In everyday use the animal changes at Chinese New Year, between 21 January and 20 February; Chinese astrology changes it at the start of spring, around 4 February. If you were born in January or early February, your sign may be the previous year's animal; the Chinese element calculator works it out from your exact birth date.
Lucky matches and clashes
The Dog shares a “three harmonies” group with the Tiger and the Horse, the signs that bring the Dog luck. Its opposite in the cycle is the Dragon, its classic clash. A full reading compares whole charts, not just signs.
About the Dog in Chinese
What is the Chinese character for the Dog?
The zodiac Dog is 狗 (gǒu), meaning dog. It is written the same in simplified and traditional Chinese.
Which years are Dog years?
1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030 and 2042. In everyday use each year begins at Chinese New Year (between 21 January and 20 February), and in Chinese astrology at the start of spring (around 4 February), so a birthday in January or early February may belong to the previous sign.
How do you say “born in the year of the Dog” in Chinese?
属狗 (shǔ gǒu). 属 means “to belong to”, so 我属狗 (wǒ shǔ gǒu) is how a Chinese speaker says “I was born in the year of the Dog”.
Which signs go well with the Dog?
The Dog shares a “three harmonies” group with the Tiger and the Horse, the signs that bring it luck. Its opposite in the cycle is the Dragon, its classic clash. A full reading compares whole charts, not just signs.
What element is the Dog?
The Dog's year branch, 戌 (xū), belongs to Earth. Each Dog year also has its own element from the year's last digit: 2018 was a Earth Dog. Your personal element in Chinese astrology comes from your full birth chart, which the free element calculator works out.
Is 狗 a good Chinese tattoo?
Yes. 狗 is the real character Chinese speakers use for the Dog, and as a single character it works even at small sizes. Choose a readable style such as Kaishu, bring a clean reference to your artist, and show it to a fluent reader before your appointment.