Dragon Chinese Zodiac: Personality, Years & Compatibility
Ambitious · Confident · Magnetic. Everything about the Dragon in the Chinese zodiac — character, career fit, love, lucky numbers and every Dragon year from 1900 to 2043.
Dragon at a glance
The Dragon character
The Dragon is the only mythical animal in the zodiac, and the only sign that gets away with being impossible. Dragon people are given more latitude than anyone else — partly because they genuinely can do more, partly because they simply assume they can.
Dragons think in large units. They set big goals, talk about them openly, and pull other people into their orbit. They are energetic, proud and surprisingly soft-hearted with people they consider their own. The failure mode is grandiosity: a Dragon can commit to something enormous, refuse help, and then be genuinely surprised when it does not work.
- Natural leader — people follow without being asked
- High energy and real stamina
- Generous and protective
- Comfortable with visibility and risk
- Can be arrogant or dismissive
- Impatient with detail and routine
- Takes on more than is realistic
Dragon at work
Dragons belong in roles with scope: founding and running things, politics, entertainment, senior management, anything public. They struggle as number two, and in jobs where the work is mostly maintenance.
Dragon in love
Big, warm and possessive. A Dragon wants to be proud of their partner and wants their partner to be proud of them. They give generously but expect loyalty in return, and they need someone who will push back rather than always agree.
Dragon years
| Year | Cycle position | Year element |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | 16 / 60 cycle | Metal |
| 1952 | 28 / 60 cycle | Water |
| 1964 | 40 / 60 cycle | Wood |
| 1976 | 52 / 60 cycle | Fire |
| 1988 | 4 / 60 cycle | Earth |
| 2000 | 16 / 60 cycle | Metal |
| 2012 | 28 / 60 cycle | Water |
| 2024 | 40 / 60 cycle | Wood |
Full list: 1904, 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024, 2036.
Common questions
The other eleven animals
鼠
牛
虎
兔
蛇
马
羊
猴
鸡
狗
猪