What Chinese zodiac is 2018?
Year of the Earth Dog戊戌 · Wu Xu · Plain Wood
2018 is the Year of the Earth Dog — 戊戌 (Wu Xu) in the Chinese calendar. The heavenly stem 戊 belongs to Earth, and the year's nayin ("sound") element is Plain Wood.
Animal sign · Stem-branch
- Animal sign
- Dog
- Stem-branch
- 戊戌 (Wu Xu)
- Element (heavenly stem)
- 戊 · Earth
- Nayin element
- Plain Wood · Wood
Chinese New Year · Start of Spring (Lichun)
- Chinese New Year
- Feb 16, 2018
- Start of Spring (Lichun)
- Feb 4, 2018
- This Dog year
- Feb 16, 2018 – Feb 4, 2019
Born in January or February 2018?
| Born | By Chinese New Year (common use) | By Start of Spring (BaZi) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 – Feb 3 | Rooster | Rooster |
| Feb 4 – Feb 15 | Rooster | Dog |
| Feb 16 – Dec 31 | Dog | Dog |
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 2018?
- In 2026
- 8 after their birthday (7 before)
- East Asian age (xusui)
- 9 after Chinese New Year
Dog return years (benmingnian)
- 2030 (age 12)
- 2042 (age 24)
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 Dog?
- 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 Dog personality
The Earth element gives this Dog its own flavor. Earth is about steadiness: traditionally an Earth year adds patience, reliability and a generous heart.
As night falls in the hour of Xu, there is always a dog keeping watch at the door. People born in the Year of the Dog are loyal and principled, give their all to their friends, and can't stand to see unfairness. With you around, people feel secure.
- Strengths
- Loyal, upright, responsible
- Watch for
- You worry on others' behalf and take small things to heart
- In love
- Once you have chosen someone, you guard them for life.
- At work
- You suit roles built on trust and principle. People hand you what matters most.
The Dog in 2027, Year of the Fire Goat
Talk honestly and hold your ground
Traditionally, the Dog's branch Xu 'breaks' with the Goat's Wei, and both belong to the Chou-Xu-Wei 'punishment' trio, so the Dog is one of the animals said to be at odds with Tai Sui in a Goat year. Read it as a reminder: relationships and plans may need a little more give and take this year. You're loyal and honest; leave room in what you say and most things resolve easily.
Consolidate what you've built and tend to team relationships. When you disagree, start with facts, then positions.
Traditional views shared as culture and for fun — not a prediction or advice.
FAQ
What Chinese zodiac is 2018?
2018 is the Year of the Dog (戊戌, Wu Xu). This Dog year runs from Feb 16, 2018 (Chinese New Year) to Feb 4, 2019.
What is my sign if I was born in January 2018?
Born before Feb 16, 2018? By the usual Chinese New Year rule you belong to 2017, the Year of the Rooster. BaZi switches at Start of Spring (Feb 4), so a birthday before that also gets the 丁酉 year pillar.
What element is a 2018 Dog?
By the heavenly stem 戊, 2018 is a Earth Dog year. By the older nayin system, 戊戌 is "Plain Wood". Neither is good or bad — your personal elements come from the full BaZi chart.
How old is someone born in 2018 in 2026?
8 after their birthday in 2026; by East Asian reckoning (xusui) they are 9 after Chinese New Year.
When is the next Year of the Dog?
The next Year of the Dog is 2030.
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 Dog 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.