Year of the Horse tattoo
The Chinese zodiac Horse is 马 (mǎ), written 馬 in traditional characters. It is the seventh of the twelve animals, and people born in Horse years are free-spirited, warm and lively.
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The Horse · Chinese zodiac
What 马 means.
The horse stands for speed and success, as in the good-luck phrase 马到成功 (mǎ dào chéng gōng), “success as soon as the horse arrives”.
- Character
- 马horse
- Traditional
- 馬used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and classical calligraphy
- Born in
- 属马“born in the year of the Horse”
- Year branch
- 午the Earthly Branch of Horse years
- Fixed element
- Fire 火
Years of the Horse
- 1942Water Horse
- 1954Wood Horse
- 1966Fire Horse
- 1978Earth Horse
- 1990Metal Horse
- 2002Water Horse
- 2014Wood Horse
- 2026Fire Horse
- 2038Earth Horse
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 Horse shares a “three harmonies” group with the Tiger and the Dog, the signs that bring the Horse luck. Its opposite in the cycle is the Rat, its classic clash. A full reading compares whole charts, not just signs.
About the Horse in Chinese
What is the Chinese character for the Horse?
The zodiac Horse is 马 (mǎ), meaning horse. In traditional Chinese it is written 馬; both forms are correct.
Which years are Horse years?
1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026 and 2038. 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 Horse” in Chinese?
属马 (shǔ mǎ). 属 means “to belong to”, so 我属马 (wǒ shǔ mǎ) is how a Chinese speaker says “I was born in the year of the Horse”.
Which signs go well with the Horse?
The Horse shares a “three harmonies” group with the Tiger and the Dog, the signs that bring it luck. Its opposite in the cycle is the Rat, its classic clash. A full reading compares whole charts, not just signs.
What element is the Horse?
The Horse's year branch, 午 (wǔ), belongs to Fire. Each Horse year also has its own element from the year's last digit: 2026 is a Fire Horse. Your personal element in Chinese astrology comes from your full birth chart, which the free element calculator works out.
Is 马 a good Chinese tattoo?
Yes. 马 is the real character Chinese speakers use for the Horse, and as a single character it works even at small sizes. Traditional 馬 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.