Chinese zodiac / Dragon
The Dragon in the Chinese zodiac
The Dragon is the only mythical animal in the zodiac and the sign most people hope for. Dragons think big, lead naturally and carry a confidence that draws others along.
Dragons are born in 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 and 2024. Dragon years see a rise in births across much of Asia because the sign is thought to bring luck and success.
Dragon years
- 1940Metal Dragon
- 1952Water Dragon
- 1964Wood Dragon
- 1976Fire Dragon
- 1988Earth Dragon
- 2000Metal Dragon
- 2012Water Dragon
- 2024Wood Dragon
The zodiac year starts at Lunar New Year, so a birthday in January or early February usually belongs to the previous sign. Check an exact date.
The Dragon personality
- Ambitious
- Energetic
- Charismatic
Dragons think big and inspire people to follow. Confident and driven, they are happiest when they are building something that matters.
- Lucky numbers
- 1, 6, 7
- Lucky colours
- GoldSilverGrey
- Trickier matches
- Dog
At their best
Dragons are ambitious, energetic and charismatic. They set high goals and inspire people to follow. When a Dragon believes in something, the room tends to believe in it too, and Dragons are generous with credit when things go well.
To watch
Pride and impatience are the Dragon's weak spots, along with a habit of starting more than it finishes. Dragons can also mistake confidence for being right. The trait to manage is the need for an audience; the best Dragons learn to be just as good in private.
The Dragon in love and at work
In love
Dragons are warm, dramatic partners who want to be admired and to admire in return. They do not want a partner who needs managing, and they can be hard to pin down. Their traditional matches are the Rooster, the Rat and the Monkey; the Dog is the classic clash.
At work
Dragons suit leadership, performance, entrepreneurship, media and any job with a stage. They are strong at vision and launches and weaker at the slow middle of a project. They work best with a practical partner who turns the plan into steps.
Matches follow the traditional harmony and clash pairings. Try any two signs on the compatibility checker.
Steady year
The Dragon in 2027, the Year of the Fire Goat
A steady year for the Dragon. Your ambition is still welcome, but the Goat year rewards collaboration over going it alone.
Questions
- Why are Dragon years so popular for having children?
- The Dragon is traditionally the luckiest sign, associated with power, success and good fortune. In many Chinese and Vietnamese communities birth rates rise in Dragon years and schools fill up a few years later. 2024 was the most recent Dragon year; the next is 2036.
- Which years are Dragon years?
- 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024. Each starts at Lunar New Year, not 1 January, so a January or early February birthday usually belongs to the previous sign.
- Is 2027 a good year for the Dragon?
- Steady year. Dragon has no special clash or harmony with the Goat, so the year is largely what you make of it. The Dragon 2027 forecast goes through career, money, love and wellbeing.