摘要：The Chinese Zodiac, also known as Shengxiao, is a traditional system that assigns an animal to each year in a repeating 12-year cy

The Chinese Zodiac, also known as Shengxiao, is a traditional system that assigns an animal to each year in a repeating 12-year cycle. It has a history of more than 2,000 years and plays a significant role in Chinese culture, influencing people's decisions on important events like marriages, births, and business ventures. Each animal is believed to represent distinct personality traits, and people born in a specific zodiac year are said to inherit those characteristics.

The 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac, in order, are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. The order of these animals is said to come from a legendary race organized by the Jade Emperor. It is said that the Rat tricked the Ox into carrying it, then jumped off at the finish line to win first place, while the Pig, who was lazy, came last.

In addition to representing years, the Chinese Zodiac animals are also associated with hours of the day, Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water), and directions. For example, the Rat is linked to the hour from 11 PM to 1 AM, and the Tiger is associated with the east. Many Chinese people still check their zodiac signs when planning daily activities or understanding their relationships with others. Today, the Chinese Zodiac is not only popular in China but also widely recognized and celebrated in other Asian countries like South Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.

十二生肖，又称 “生肖”，是一种传统的纪年体系，以 12 年为一个循环，每年对应一种动物。它已有 2000 多年的历史，在中国文化中占据重要地位，影响着人们在婚姻、生育、商业投资等重大事件上的决策。人们认为每种动物都代表着独特的性格特质，在特定生肖年出生的人据说会继承这些特质。

十二生肖按顺序排列为：鼠、牛、虎、兔、龙、蛇、马、羊、猴、鸡、狗、猪。这些动物的顺序据说源自玉皇大帝组织的一场传奇赛跑。传说中，老鼠骗牛背着它，然后在终点线跳下来夺得第一名，而懒惰的猪则落在了最后。

除了代表年份，十二生肖动物还与时辰、五行（木、火、土、金、水）和方位相关联。例如，鼠对应子时（晚上 11 点至凌晨 1 点），虎则与东方相对应。如今许多中国人在规划日常活动或理解人际关系时，仍会参考自己的生肖。现在，十二生肖不仅在中国流行，在韩国、日本、越南等其他亚洲国家也被广泛认可和庆祝。

来源：哎呀喂英语