Year of the Rooster tattoo
The Chinese zodiac Rooster is 鸡 (jī), written 雞 in traditional characters. It is the tenth of the twelve animals, and people born in Rooster years are observant, hard-working and honest.
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The Rooster · Chinese zodiac
What 鸡 means.
鸡 is the everyday word for chicken; as a zodiac sign it is called the Rooster in English.
- Character
- 鸡chicken, rooster
- Traditional
- 雞used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and classical calligraphy
- Born in
- 属鸡“born in the year of the Rooster”
- Year branch
- 酉the Earthly Branch of Rooster years
- Fixed element
- Metal 金
Before you tattoo it: On its own, 鸡 is also slang for a sex worker in mainland China. Many people write 属鸡 (shǔ jī, “born in the year of the Rooster”) so the zodiac meaning is unmistakable.
Years of the Rooster
- 1945Wood Rooster
- 1957Fire Rooster
- 1969Earth Rooster
- 1981Metal Rooster
- 1993Water Rooster
- 2005Wood Rooster
- 2017Fire Rooster
- 2029Earth Rooster
- 2041Metal Rooster
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 Rooster shares a “three harmonies” group with the Ox and the Snake, the signs that bring the Rooster luck. Its opposite in the cycle is the Rabbit, its classic clash. A full reading compares whole charts, not just signs.
About the Rooster in Chinese
What is the Chinese character for the Rooster?
The zodiac Rooster is 鸡 (jī), meaning chicken, rooster. In traditional Chinese it is written 雞; both forms are correct.
Which years are Rooster years?
1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029 and 2041. 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 Rooster” in Chinese?
属鸡 (shǔ jī). 属 means “to belong to”, so 我属鸡 (wǒ shǔ jī) is how a Chinese speaker says “I was born in the year of the Rooster”.
Which signs go well with the Rooster?
The Rooster shares a “three harmonies” group with the Ox and the Snake, the signs that bring it luck. Its opposite in the cycle is the Rabbit, its classic clash. A full reading compares whole charts, not just signs.
What element is the Rooster?
The Rooster's year branch, 酉 (yǒu), belongs to Metal. Each Rooster year also has its own element from the year's last digit: 2017 was a Fire Rooster. Your personal element in Chinese astrology comes from your full birth chart, which the free element calculator works out.
Is 鸡 a good Chinese tattoo?
Yes, with one thing to know. On its own, 鸡 is also slang for a sex worker in mainland China. Many people write 属鸡 (shǔ jī, “born in the year of the Rooster”) so the zodiac meaning is unmistakable. Traditional 雞 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.