Year of the Dragon tattoo
The Chinese zodiac Dragon is 龙 (lóng), written 龍 in traditional characters. It is the fifth of the twelve animals, and people born in Dragon years are ambitious, charismatic and lucky.
lóng
The Dragon · Chinese zodiac
What 龙 means.
The Chinese dragon brings rain and good fortune and was long the emblem of the emperor; it is not the fire-breathing dragon of European stories.
- Character
- 龙dragon
- Traditional
- 龍used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and classical calligraphy
- Born in
- 属龙“born in the year of the Dragon”
- Year branch
- 辰the Earthly Branch of Dragon years
- Fixed element
- Earth 土
Years of the Dragon
- 1940Metal Dragon
- 1952Water Dragon
- 1964Wood Dragon
- 1976Fire Dragon
- 1988Earth Dragon
- 2000Metal Dragon
- 2012Water Dragon
- 2024Wood Dragon
- 2036Fire Dragon
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 Dragon shares a “three harmonies” group with the Rat and the Monkey, the signs that bring the Dragon luck. Its opposite in the cycle is the Dog, its classic clash. A full reading compares whole charts, not just signs.
About the Dragon in Chinese
What is the Chinese character for the Dragon?
The zodiac Dragon is 龙 (lóng), meaning dragon. In traditional Chinese it is written 龍; both forms are correct.
Which years are Dragon years?
1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024 and 2036. 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 Dragon” in Chinese?
属龙 (shǔ lóng). 属 means “to belong to”, so 我属龙 (wǒ shǔ lóng) is how a Chinese speaker says “I was born in the year of the Dragon”.
Which signs go well with the Dragon?
The Dragon shares a “three harmonies” group with the Rat and the Monkey, the signs that bring it luck. Its opposite in the cycle is the Dog, its classic clash. A full reading compares whole charts, not just signs.
What element is the Dragon?
The Dragon's year branch, 辰 (chén), belongs to Earth. Each Dragon year also has its own element from the year's last digit: 2024 was a Wood Dragon. Your personal element in Chinese astrology comes from your full birth chart, which the free element calculator works out.
Is 龙 a good Chinese tattoo?
Yes. 龙 is the real character Chinese speakers use for the Dragon, and as a single character it works even at small sizes. Traditional 龍 has more strokes and suits a larger piece. Choose a readable style such as Kaishu, bring a clean reference to your artist, and show it to a fluent reader before your appointment.