What Chinese zodiac is 1989?
Year of the Earth Snake己巳 · Ji Si · Forest Wood
1989 is the Year of the Earth Snake — 己巳 (Ji Si) in the Chinese calendar. The heavenly stem 己 belongs to Earth, and the year's nayin ("sound") element is Forest Wood.
Animal sign · Stem-branch
- Animal sign
- Snake
- Stem-branch
- 己巳 (Ji Si)
- Element (heavenly stem)
- 己 · Earth
- Nayin element
- Forest Wood · Wood
Chinese New Year · Start of Spring (Lichun)
- Chinese New Year
- Feb 6, 1989
- Start of Spring (Lichun)
- Feb 4, 1989
- This Snake year
- Feb 6, 1989 – Jan 26, 1990
Born in January or February 1989?
| Born | By Chinese New Year (common use) | By Start of Spring (BaZi) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 – Feb 3 | Dragon | Dragon |
| Feb 4 – Feb 5 | Dragon | Snake |
| Feb 6 – Dec 31 | Snake | Snake |
Most people switch animals at Chinese New Year; BaZi (Four Pillars) uses Start of Spring as the year boundary, so early-year birthdays can have two answers. Not sure? A free BaZi chart shows your exact year pillar.
How old is someone born in 1989?
- In 2026
- 37 after their birthday (36 before)
- East Asian age (xusui)
- 38 after Chinese New Year
Snake return years (benmingnian)
- 2013 (age 24)
- 2025 (age 36)
- 2037 (age 48)
- 2049 (age 60)
A benmingnian is a year that shares your birth animal; it comes round every 12 years. Wearing red is a folk custom for it — tradition, not something to worry about.
Which signs get along with the Snake?
- Trine (san he)
- Secret friend (liu he)
- Clash (chong)
These are traditional branch relations, shared as culture — they don't decide whether two people get along. Tap one for the full match.
Earth Snake personality
The Earth element gives this Snake its own flavor. Earth is about steadiness: traditionally an Earth year adds patience, reliability and a generous heart.
Toward noon, in the hour of Si, the snake lies coiled and still on a sun-warmed stone. People born in the Year of the Snake are composed and perceptive. They rarely take sides early, and when they speak, they get to the point. Quiet is your strength.
- Strengths
- Calm, insightful, discreet
- Watch for
- Guarded, and slow to open your heart
- In love
- Devoted and deep, you value an understanding that needs no words.
- At work
- You suit work that needs judgment and strategy, often seeing a second layer others miss.
The Snake in 2027, Year of the Fire Goat
In tune with the fire, let your talent show
Traditionally, Snake, Horse and Goat form the southern 'fire gathering', so Snake people are in tune with the energy of a Fire Goat year. You're calm and perceptive; this year, bring your ideas into the open and let more people see what you can do.
Take on work that calls for judgment and strategy. Your opinion carries extra weight this year, so speak up when it matters.
Traditional views shared as culture and for fun — not a prediction or advice.
FAQ
What Chinese zodiac is 1989?
1989 is the Year of the Snake (己巳, Ji Si). This Snake year runs from Feb 6, 1989 (Chinese New Year) to Jan 26, 1990.
What is my sign if I was born in January 1989?
Born before Feb 6, 1989? By the usual Chinese New Year rule you belong to 1988, the Year of the Dragon. BaZi switches at Start of Spring (Feb 4), so a birthday before that also gets the 戊辰 year pillar.
What element is a 1989 Snake?
By the heavenly stem 己, 1989 is a Earth Snake year. By the older nayin system, 己巳 is "Forest Wood". Neither is good or bad — your personal elements come from the full BaZi chart.
How old is someone born in 1989 in 2026?
37 after their birthday in 2026; by East Asian reckoning (xusui) they are 38 after Chinese New Year.
When is the next Year of the Snake?
The next Year of the Snake is 2037.
Make it about you
Your Chinese zodiac only looks at your birth year. Enter your date and hour of birth for a free BaZi chart and see your own chart and yearly cycles.
Other Snake years
Nearby years
Animal signs, stem-branches and nayin follow the traditional Chinese calendar; Chinese New Year and Start of Spring dates are Beijing time, computed with lunar-javascript. Traditional culture, for reference only.