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Chinese Zodiac (Eto): The 12 Animals and the 60-Year Cycle

A clear, practical guide to the Chinese zodiac as used in Japan (eto): pronunciation, the 12 zodiac animals (jūnishi), how Japanese people use eto in real life, and the sexagenary cycle (rokujikkanshi).

What is “Eto” (Chinese Zodiac)?

Eto (干支, えと, eto) has two meanings depending on context:

Strict meaning (historical/technical)

Eto is the combination of ten heavenly stems (jikkan; 十干, じっかん) and twelve earthly branches (jūnishi; 十二支, じゅうにし), creating 60 unique labels—the sexagenary cycle (rokujikkanshi; 六十干支, ろくじっかんし).

Everyday meaning (modern life)

In modern Japanese conversation, people often say “eto” when they really mean only the 12 zodiac animals/years (jūnishi). For example: “This year is the Year of the Dragon.”

Key point for English readers: Strictly, eto is a 60-item system (ten stems × twelve branches). In everyday Japan, most people use “eto” to mean only the 12 zodiac animals/years.

Chinese Zodiac (Eto) vs Western Zodiac Signs

Aspect Chinese Zodiac (Eto) Western Zodiac
Based on Birth year Birth month/date
Cycle 12 years (or 60 in full system) 12 months
Common usage “Year of the Tiger” “I’m a Leo”
Visibility Especially prominent at New Year Year-round in horoscopes

The 12 Zodiac Animals (Jūnishi; 十二支)

Order Kanji Kana Romaji English Years (recent)
1 子 ね ne Rat 2020, 2008, 1996, 1984
2 丑 うし ushi Ox 2021, 2009, 1997, 1985
3 寅 とら tora Tiger 2022, 2010, 1998, 1986
4 卯 う u Rabbit 2023, 2011, 1999, 1987
5 辰 たつ tatsu Dragon 2024, 2012, 2000, 1988
6 巳 み mi Snake 2025, 2013, 2001, 1989
7 午 うま uma Horse 2026, 2014, 2002, 1990
8 未 ひつじ hitsuji Sheep 2027, 2015, 2003, 1991
9 申 さる saru Monkey 2028, 2016, 2004, 1992
10 酉 とり tori Rooster 2029, 2017, 2005, 1993
11 戌 いぬ inu Dog 2030, 2018, 2006, 1994
12 亥 い i Boar 2031, 2019, 2007, 1995
Note: Historically, eto was also used to label months, days, time blocks, and even directions—not just "the animal of the year."

How Japanese People Use Eto in Real Life

Asking About Someone’s Zodiac

In Japanese, people might ask:

  • “Nani-doshi?” (何年？) — “What year (zodiac year) were you born in?”
  • “Eto wa nani?” (干支は何？) — “What’s your eto/zodiac?”

Example answers:

  • “I was born in the Year of the Rabbit.”
  • “Mine is the Dragon.”

New Year Greetings

Eto is most visible around New Year (お正月, Oshōgatsu). Common greetings include:

Personal:

  • “Happy New Year! Wishing you a great year ahead.”
  • “May the Year of the Horse bring you energy and progress.”
  • “Wishing you health and good luck in the new year.”

Business:

  • “Wishing you a happy and prosperous New Year.”
  • “Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to working with you this year.”

The 60-Year Cycle (Sexagenary Cycle)

Ten Heavenly Stems (Jikkan; 十干)

The full eto system combines ten stems with the twelve animals:

# Kanji On-yomi Kun-yomi Romaji Element
1 甲 こう きのえ kinoe Wood (+)
2 乙 おつ きのと kinoto Wood (−)
3 丙 へい ひのえ hinoe Fire (+)
4 丁 てい ひのと hinoto Fire (−)
5 戊 ぼ つちのえ tsuchinoe Earth (+)
6 己 き つちのと tsuchinoto Earth (−)
7 庚 こう かのえ kanoe Metal (+)
8 辛 しん かのと kanoto Metal (−)
9 壬 じん みずのえ mizunoe Water (+)
10 癸 き みずのと mizunoto Water (−)

Why 60?

10 stems × 12 branches = 60 unique combinations

When the full set returns to the start, that’s one reason kanreki (還暦, かんれき) — the celebration of turning 60 — is significant in Japanese culture. You’ve completed one full cycle!

Example: 2026 is labeled 丙午 (ひのえうま, *hinoe-uma*) — "Fire Horse" in the sexagenary cycle. This is the 43rd combination in the 60-year cycle.

Full 60-Combination Table (Rokujikkanshi; 六十干支)

Click to expand the complete 60-combination table
# Kanji Kun-yomi Romaji # Kanji Kun-yomi Romaji
1 甲子 きのえね kinoe-ne 31 甲午 きのえうま kinoe-uma
2 乙丑 きのとうし kinoto-ushi 32 乙未 きのとひつじ kinoto-hitsuji
3 丙寅 ひのえとら hinoe-tora 33 丙申 ひのえさる hinoe-saru
4 丁卯 ひのとう hinoto-u 34 丁酉 ひのととり hinoto-tori
5 戊辰 つちのえたつ tsuchinoe-tatsu 35 戊戌 つちのえいぬ tsuchinoe-inu
6 己巳 つちのとみ tsuchinoto-mi 36 己亥 つちのとい tsuchinoto-i
7 庚午 かのえうま kanoe-uma 37 庚子 かのえね kanoe-ne
8 辛未 かのとひつじ kanoto-hitsuji 38 辛丑 かのとうし kanoto-ushi
9 壬申 みずのえさる mizunoe-saru 39 壬寅 みずのえとら mizunoe-tora
10 癸酉 みずのととり mizunoto-tori 40 癸卯 みずのとう mizunoto-u
11 甲戌 きのえいぬ kinoe-inu 41 甲辰 きのえたつ kinoe-tatsu
12 乙亥 きのとい kinoto-i 42 乙巳 きのとみ kinoto-mi
13 丙子 ひのえね hinoe-ne 43 丙午 ひのえうま hinoe-uma
14 丁丑 ひのとうし hinoto-ushi 44 丁未 ひのとひつじ hinoto-hitsuji
15 戊寅 つちのえとら tsuchinoe-tora 45 戊申 つちのえさる tsuchinoe-saru
16 己卯 つちのとう tsuchinoto-u 46 己酉 つちのととり tsuchinoto-tori
17 庚辰 かのえたつ kanoe-tatsu 47 庚戌 かのえいぬ kanoe-inu
18 辛巳 かのとみ kanoto-mi 48 辛亥 かのとい kanoto-i
19 壬午 みずのえうま mizunoe-uma 49 壬子 みずのえね mizunoe-ne
20 癸未 みずのとひつじ mizunoto-hitsuji 50 癸丑 みずのとうし mizunoto-ushi
21 甲申 きのえさる kinoe-saru 51 甲寅 きのえとら kinoe-tora
22 乙酉 きのととり kinoto-tori 52 乙卯 きのとう kinoto-u
23 丙戌 ひのえいぬ hinoe-inu 53 丙辰 ひのえたつ hinoe-tatsu
24 丁亥 ひのとい hinoto-i 54 丁巳 ひのとみ hinoto-mi
25 戊子 つちのえね tsuchinoe-ne 55 戊午 つちのえうま tsuchinoe-uma
26 己丑 つちのとうし tsuchinoto-ushi 56 己未 つちのとひつじ tsuchinoto-hitsuji
27 庚寅 かのえとら kanoe-tora 57 庚申 かのえさる kanoe-saru
28 辛卯 かのとう kanoto-u 58 辛酉 かのととり kanoto-tori
29 壬辰 みずのえたつ mizunoe-tatsu 59 壬戌 みずのえいぬ mizunoe-inu
30 癸巳 みずのとみ mizunoto-mi 60 癸亥 みずのとい mizunoto-i

Pronunciation Tips

For English Speakers

  • “u” in Japanese (う) is not exactly English “oo” — it’s pronounced with less lip rounding
  • Long vowels may be written with macrons (ō, ū) or doubled vowels (oo, uu)
  • If you can read kana, you can pronounce eto accurately
  • Romaji is only a helper; it can’t perfectly capture Japanese sounds

Examples

Word Kana Romaji Options
十二支 じゅうにし jūnishi / juunishi
東京 とうきょう Tōkyō / Toukyou / Tokyo
六十干支 ろくじっかんし rokujikkanshi
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