Born in 1961: the Ox
A Yin Metal Ox 🐂
The Ox is the steady worker of the zodiac: disciplined, calm under pressure, and trusted to finish what it starts. Loyalty runs deep. As a Metal-element year, 1961 adds a determined, disciplined and self-reliant streak to the usual Ox character.
The 1961 lunar year ran from February 15, 1961 to February 5, 1962. If you were born on or after February 15, 1961 you are a Ox; if you were born earlier in 1961, you belong to the previous year's sign, the Rat.
What the Metal element adds
Metal is the element of autumn, structure and resolve. A Metal year sharpens focus and independence: a Metal animal knows what it wants and pursues it directly, sometimes at the cost of flexibility.
The full 60-year cycle pairs each of the 12 animals with each of the 5 elements, so a Metal Ox year comes around only once every 60 years — the last one before 1961 was 1901, and the next is 2021. People born in it are said to combine dependable and patient with the element's determined nature. Its Yin/Yang polarity is fixed as Yin for every Ox year. See the Metal element and the full Metal Ox profile.
1961 at a glance
| Animal | 🐂 Ox (牛) |
|---|---|
| Element | Metal |
| Polarity | Yin |
| Best match | Rat |
| Hardest match | Goat |
| Lucky numbers | 1, 4 |
| Lucky colors | white, yellow, green |
Ox compatibility
In the traditional chart, a 1961 Ox gets on best with the Rat (the "secret friend" pairing), and also with Snake and Rooster. The hardest pairing is the Goat, six years apart in the cycle. See the full Ox compatibility table.
Your zodiac years
The Ox returns every 12 years, so someone born in 1961 is back in their own zodiac year in 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 and so on. Tradition calls this your běnmìngnián — despite being "your" year, it is thought to clash with Tài Suì (the God of Age) and to carry a higher chance of setbacks, so many people wear red through it for protection.
Other Ox years
1937 1949 1973 1985 1997 2009 2021 2033
Full Ox personality profile → Ox compatibility with every sign →
Know your exact birth date? Use the calculator for your full combination →
Frequently asked questions
What Chinese zodiac sign is 1961?
1961 is the year of the Ox (Metal Ox, Yin polarity). Anyone born on or after February 15, 1961 is a Ox; a birthday earlier in 1961 belongs to the previous sign, the Rat.
What element is the 1961 zodiac year?
1961 is a Metal-element year. Metal is the element of autumn, structure and resolve. A Metal year sharpens focus and independence: a Metal animal knows what it wants and pursues it directly, sometimes at the cost of flexibility.
Who is a 1961 Ox most compatible with?
Best matches are the Rat (the "secret friend"), plus the Snake and Rooster. The hardest match is the Goat.
Is 1961 a lucky year to be born in?
Chinese tradition does not rank whole years as lucky or unlucky to be born in — every animal has strengths and weaknesses. The one combination widely treated with caution is the Fire Horse, and 1961 is not a Fire Horse year.