Born in 1985: the Ox
A Yin Wood 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 Wood-element year, 1985 adds a cooperative, growth-minded and quietly generous streak to the usual Ox character.
The 1985 lunar year ran from February 20, 1985 to February 9, 1986. If you were born on or after February 20, 1985 you are a Ox; if you were born earlier in 1985, you belong to the previous year's sign, the Rat.
What the Wood element adds
Wood is the element of spring, growth and cooperation. A Wood year tends to soften an animal's sharper edges and push it toward teamwork, patience and building things that last rather than chasing quick wins.
The full 60-year cycle pairs each of the 12 animals with each of the 5 elements, so a Wood Ox year comes around only once every 60 years — the last one before 1985 was 1925, and the next is 2045. People born in it are said to combine dependable and patient with the element's cooperative nature. Its Yin/Yang polarity is fixed as Yin for every Ox year. See the Wood element and the full Wood Ox profile.
1985 at a glance
| Animal | 🐂 Ox (牛) |
|---|---|
| Element | Wood |
| Polarity | Yin |
| Best match | Rat |
| Hardest match | Goat |
| Lucky numbers | 1, 4 |
| Lucky colors | white, yellow, green |
Ox compatibility
In the traditional chart, a 1985 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 1985 is back in their own zodiac year in 1997, 2009, 2021, 2033 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 1973 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 1985?
1985 is the year of the Ox (Wood Ox, Yin polarity). Anyone born on or after February 20, 1985 is a Ox; a birthday earlier in 1985 belongs to the previous sign, the Rat.
What element is the 1985 zodiac year?
1985 is a Wood-element year. Wood is the element of spring, growth and cooperation. A Wood year tends to soften an animal's sharper edges and push it toward teamwork, patience and building things that last rather than chasing quick wins.
Who is a 1985 Ox most compatible with?
Best matches are the Rat (the "secret friend"), plus the Snake and Rooster. The hardest match is the Goat.
Is 1985 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 1985 is not a Fire Horse year.