Year of the Ox: Chinese Zodiac Sign, Personality, Compatibility
Logical and tenacious, Ox is the second animal of the Chinese zodiac signs and one of its most industrious. While they may often remain oblivious to matters of the heart until later, the dependability that the Ox brings to work will make them excellent long-term partners for the discerning, even if they may take a bit of prodding to get there.
The zodiac signs have a long history in Chinese astrology and culture, dating back thousands of years. A person’s zodiac animal sign affects everything from their personality to their career and the romantic partner who will help them flourish. This horoscope system also determines a person’s luck in a given year. For example, in a year with the same zodiac sign as your birth year, known as “Ben Ming Nian”, you risk offending the Guardian God of the year and potentially experiencing setbacks until the year is out.
Chinese Zodiac Years for Ox
The zodiac years are based on the Chinese lunar calendar used in ancient times, with the Chinese New Year ending somewhere in late January of the Gregorian calendar. Each zodiac sign comes around after every 12-year cycle upon the start of the Lunar New Year. The year 2021 was the last Ox year. The next will be 2033. Refer to the zodiac calculator below to check if you’re an Ox.
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Read moreChart of Ox Years, Dates, and Elements
Ox Year | Start of the Lunar Year | End of the Lunar Year | Element |
|---|---|---|---|
1925 | January 24, 2025 | February 12, 1926 | Wood |
1937 | February 11, 1937 | January 30, 1938 | Fire |
1949 | January 29, 1949 | February 16, 1950 | Earth |
1961 | February 15, 1961 | February 4, 1962 | Metal |
1973 | February 3, 1973 | January 22, 1974 | Water |
1985 | February 20, 1985 | February 8, 1986 | Wood |
1997 | February 7, 1997 | January 27, 1998 | Fire |
2009 | January 26, 2009 | February 13, 2010 | Earth |
2021 | February 11, 2021 | January 31, 2022 | Metal |
2033 | January 31, 2033 | January 18, 2034 | Water |
Ox Zodiac: Personality and Traits
Aside from their renowned industry, people born in the years of the Ox are also quiet, by-the-book, and dignified. They will never take advantage of others, but similarly, they won’t stand being treated unfairly or being accused of something they haven’t done. They can be stubborn and prefer to work for their accomplishment on their own. An Ox will rarely ask anyone for help.
Loyal, logical, and hardworking, the Chinese zodiac Ox can always be counted on for their tenacity, which is their secret to success.
The Ox is the action-taker of the zodiac signs. Whether they’re taking on yet another project at work or planning a trip to Disneyland, the Ox will come up with a concrete and actionable plan and then work to implement it. The right romantic partner, employer, or friend will appreciate this valuable quality, but others may find the Ox too demanding.
People born in the years of the Ox are rarely swayed by emotion, but don’t let this fool you into thinking they’re not emotional. In fact, those who see past the thick hide of the Ox personality will be the only ones lucky enough to detect a sensitive yet noble soul.
Male Oxen
The male Ox is a cautious provider. They prefer traditional gender roles and don’t mind—and even take pride in—others depending on them, due to their strong sense of responsibility. They are confident, which can become arrogance if they let success go to their head. Remember that humor and affection will go a long way to making people realize how much you do for them!
Female Oxen
The female Ox is gentle and loyal. They are resilient, which may lead to others treating them unfairly. These ladies uphold a high standard for their own conduct, so they deserve to be treated with respect, affection, and care. But, Ox, you would do well first to remember your own worth and demand the best from those around you.
Ox and the Five Elements
The Chinese five-element theory classifies everything, including the zodiac signs, into five elements: metal, wood, fire, water, and earth. Ox is governed by earth, but you can also be considered an Ox of five zodiac elements, with different traits, depending on the year of your birth. If you were born in 1985, for example, you’re a Wood Ox.
Element | Year | Personality |
|---|---|---|
Metal | 1961, 2021 | Those born in the year of the Metal Ox will quickly become known for their “work hard, play hard” attitude no matter where they are. Think of them as the ones working on a big presentation all day and then still finding the energy to go out at night when everyone else is ready to stumble into bed. Success will be easier to come by, but love can be more elusive. Slow down, or no one else will be able to keep up. |
Water | 1973, 2033 | The defining characteristic of Water Oxen is their resilience. They tend to silently endure, even in the hardest of times, although they may be prone to emotional suffering deep down. Take care to give expression to these emotions, Water Ox, because they may affect your health if you keep them bottled up for too long. |
Wood | 1925, 1985 | Wood Oxen are born leaders who inspire devotion and respect with their judicious manner. They lead by example both at work and in love, and they impose a stricter standard on themselves before all else. But being around them can be rather intimidating, so the right partner—if the Wood Ox is lucky—can go a long way toward softening their strong presence. |
Fire | 1937, 1997 | The most important lesson for Fire Oxen to learn is self-discipline. Careerwise, this may look like picking a niche and becoming the foremost expert in the area, while in love, it’s reigning in passionate impulses, especially when they’re already in a long-term relationship. While in the moment this may feel difficult, over the span of a lifetime, it’s the only way for the Fire Ox to truly succeed. |
Earth | 1949, 2009 | The Earth Ox takes an “all work and no play” approach to life more than Oxen governed by the other elements. Far from believing this makes them dull, however, Earth Oxen may require their loved ones, parental figures, or a trusted mentor to point out the imbalance this lifestyle may cause. While it’s good to be hardworking, spare some time for fun, or even just calm relaxation, before an imminent burnout. |
Lucky Things for Oxen
Oxen are governed by the element of earth; therefore, colors, numbers, directions, and timing associated with the earth element are lucky for them, while those associated with wood, which overcomes water, are to be avoided. You can find a list of lucky and unlucky things for the Ox below.
Lucky Things
Lucky numbers: 1, 4
Lucky colors: Red, Yellow
Lucky directions: East, Southeast
Lucky flowers: Waterlily, Morning Glory, Tulip, Peach Blossom
Things to Avoid
Unlucky numbers: 3, 6
Unlucky colors: Green
Unlucky directions: Northwest
Other unlucky items and things to be avoided: Sweating, Physical exertion
Compatibility: Best and Worst Matches for Ox
Each zodiac sign has its best and worst matches according to complex calculations involving the five elements system and the characteristics of the signs.
Many of the Ox’s best qualities are hidden away, and it takes a special person to discover the warm and passionate heart underneath their conservative exterior. For that reason, they’re best suited for zodiac signs that are as steadfast as themselves yet are patient enough to coax the Ox out of their shell, including Snakes, Roosters, and Rats.
On the other hand, zodiac signs with a similarly stubborn streak will find the Ox unyielding. This includes the Horse, the Goat, and the Dog. It is not that anyone is at fault in these pairings, but they just can’t seem to make it work.
Most Compatible: Snake, Rooster, Rat
The best zodiac matches for the Ox are the Snake, the Rooster, and the Rat. The love compatibility between the Ox and these signs are characterized by similar life goals that both partners will work towards in harmony.
Both the Snake and the Ox like a comfortable lifestyle, and both will contribute to creating just that for their partner. The Snake will put their joint resources to excellent and sensible use, while the Ox will thrive in their partner’s adoring gaze and be motivated to give their all.
The Rooster excels in communication and people skills, which the Ox finds admirable because it’s where they themselves lack the most. This pairing will make a sweet romantic couple, but it will also make a formidable team in business if they’re so inclined!
The Ox can work hard, knowing that their Rat partner will organize their home life with frugality and put enough away for rainy days in the future. The Rat is quick where the Ox is stable, making this complementary pair one for the storybooks.
Least Compatible: Horse, Goat, Dog
The Horse, the Goat, and the Dog clash with the Ox, making these less-than-desirable unions that most likely won’t end in relationship or marital bliss.
The Horse and the Ox, while usually mild and agreeable, bring out the competitive side of each other. Both stubbornly want their way or the highway in the relationship, which, as you can imagine, fills this union with stress.
The sweet Goat often ends up locking horns with the Ox. Disagreements are normal in any relationship, but with these two, any small spat ends up escalating quickly until both are very hurt. The Goat is also more prone to spending, which the Ox finds difficult to deal with.
The Ox doesn’t complain, while the Dog is too self-centered to notice their partner is suffering in silence. Little effective communication takes place between this pair, and before long, the Ox will grow resentful.
Best Jobs and Careers for Ox
Oxen can do well in any career path with their work ethic, but that doesn’t mean they should pick any job. Interest will ensure their hard work pays dividends. With their impeccable logic, the Ox can make excellent attorneys, army or government officials, teachers, or doctors. They will even endow any artistic pursuits with a grounded quality that’ll be refreshing to see.
In essence, any careers that require long periods of training, endurance, and an accumulation of knowledge will see Oxen thrive. From knowing all the bylaws to spotting an illness from one look, what may seem tedious to flightier signs will give the Ox a great sense of accomplishment.
Their patience can make them particularly great teachers and government officials or artists of a variety of disciplines that pay no mind to the years necessary for gaining the necessary competence. When that happens, the Ox can stun the world with their creativity.
Health and Lifestyle Advice
The Ox presents the biggest health risk to themselves. They will often push beyond their limits and endure beyond reason to achieve a goal, which they can. But by then, it’s too late to recuperate their physical and psychological health. Just because you can withstand the stress does not mean you should.
Oxen are prudent investors and wouldn’t toss money into anything too risky, such as gambling or the stock market. But when it comes to real estate, the Ox, out of a need to achieve stability and comfort, may risk taking on too much debt. Buy what you can comfortably afford rather than what you can just afford, and everything will be just fine.
Ox and the 12 Zodiac Animals (Origin Story)
Are you curious why, out of all the animals in the world, the Ox gets to be the second zodiac animal? Chinese culture has a well-known origin story that explains how the Ox, who is rarely the center of attention if they can help it, rose to the top of the zodiac signs through determination and hard work.
Legend says that all the animals in the world were asked by the Jade Emperor, who governs the heavens, to compete in a race across the celestial river for an honored place among the zodiac signs. The cunning Rat asked to be on the Ox’s back, saying that it could give the Ox directions and keep an eye on the competitors, to which the gentle Ox readily agreed.
The Ox swam as fast as possible, beating out the powerful Tiger and the lightning-fast Rabbit. But right as it reached the finish line, the wily Rat leaped off the Ox’s back, and became No.1, while the Ox had to be satisfied with second place.
Famous People Born in the Year of the Ox
Many diligent and hardworking celebrities and famous people are represented by the Ox. Here’s a list of those who share your zodiac animal.
Barack Obama
George Clooney
Walt Disney
Malala Yousafzai
Simone Biles
Tyra Banks
Dennis Rodman
Morgan Freeman
Keira Knightley
Princess Diana
Anthony Hopkins
Jim Parsons