Born in 1973: the Ox
A Yin Water 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 Water-element year, 1973 adds a adaptable, perceptive and persuasive streak to the usual Ox character.
The 1973 lunar year ran from February 3, 1973 to January 23, 1974. If you were born on or after February 3, 1973 you are a Ox; if you were born earlier in 1973, you belong to the previous year's sign, the Rat.
What the Water element adds
Water is the element of winter, depth and adaptability. A Water year makes an animal more intuitive and persuasive, better at reading people and bending around obstacles rather than confronting them head-on.
The full 60-year cycle pairs each of the 12 animals with each of the 5 elements, so a Water Ox year comes around only once every 60 years — the last one before 1973 was 1913, and the next is 2033. People born in it are said to combine dependable and patient with the element's adaptable nature. Its Yin/Yang polarity is fixed as Yin for every Ox year. See the Water element and the full Water Ox profile.
1973 at a glance
| Animal | 🐂 Ox (牛) |
|---|---|
| Element | Water |
| Polarity | Yin |
| Best match | Rat |
| Hardest match | Goat |
| Lucky numbers | 1, 4 |
| Lucky colors | white, yellow, green |
Ox compatibility
In the traditional chart, a 1973 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 1973 is back in their own zodiac year in 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021 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 1961 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 1973?
1973 is the year of the Ox (Water Ox, Yin polarity). Anyone born on or after February 3, 1973 is a Ox; a birthday earlier in 1973 belongs to the previous sign, the Rat.
What element is the 1973 zodiac year?
1973 is a Water-element year. Water is the element of winter, depth and adaptability. A Water year makes an animal more intuitive and persuasive, better at reading people and bending around obstacles rather than confronting them head-on.
Who is a 1973 Ox most compatible with?
Best matches are the Rat (the "secret friend"), plus the Snake and Rooster. The hardest match is the Goat.
Is 1973 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 1973 is not a Fire Horse year.