Year of the Snake tattoo
The Chinese zodiac Snake is 蛇 (shé). It is the sixth of the twelve animals, and people born in Snake years are wise, intuitive and composed.
shé
The Snake · Chinese zodiac
What 蛇 means.
蛇 is the snake. In everyday Chinese the Snake is sometimes called the “little dragon” (小龙 xiǎo lóng).
- Character
- 蛇snake
- Traditional
- Written the same in simplified and traditional Chinese
- Born in
- 属蛇“born in the year of the Snake”
- Year branch
- 巳the Earthly Branch of Snake years
- Fixed element
- Fire 火
Years of the Snake
- 1941Metal Snake
- 1953Water Snake
- 1965Wood Snake
- 1977Fire Snake
- 1989Earth Snake
- 2001Metal Snake
- 2013Water Snake
- 2025Wood Snake
- 2037Fire Snake
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 Snake shares a “three harmonies” group with the Ox and the Rooster, the signs that bring the Snake luck. Its opposite in the cycle is the Pig, its classic clash. A full reading compares whole charts, not just signs.
About the Snake in Chinese
What is the Chinese character for the Snake?
The zodiac Snake is 蛇 (shé), meaning snake. It is written the same in simplified and traditional Chinese.
Which years are Snake years?
1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025 and 2037. 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 Snake” in Chinese?
属蛇 (shǔ shé). 属 means “to belong to”, so 我属蛇 (wǒ shǔ shé) is how a Chinese speaker says “I was born in the year of the Snake”.
Which signs go well with the Snake?
The Snake shares a “three harmonies” group with the Ox and the Rooster, the signs that bring it luck. Its opposite in the cycle is the Pig, its classic clash. A full reading compares whole charts, not just signs.
What element is the Snake?
The Snake's year branch, 巳 (sì), belongs to Fire. Each Snake year also has its own element from the year's last digit: 2025 was a Wood Snake. Your personal element in Chinese astrology comes from your full birth chart, which the free element calculator works out.
Is 蛇 a good Chinese tattoo?
Yes. 蛇 is the real character Chinese speakers use for the Snake, 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.