你的生肖
nǐ de shēngxiào
In Chinese, "your zodiac" is said as 你的生肖 (nǐ de shēngxiào).
This phrase refers to the animal sign assigned to a person based on their birth year in the Chinese calendar. The core term for the Chinese zodiac signs is 生肖 (shēngxiào). Common signs include 鼠 (rat), 牛 (ox), 虎 (tiger), 兔 (rabbit), 龙 (dragon), 蛇 (snake), 马 (horse), 猴 (monkey), 鸡 (rooster) and 猪 (pig). To ask someone what their zodiac sign is, it is common to use the verb 属 (shǔ), for example in the phrase 你属什么? (What is your zodiac sign?).
What does it mean word for word?
The term 生肖 (shēngxiào) is a compound where 生 refers to birth or life and 肖 refers to resemblance or likeness. In the phrase 你的生肖, the possessive particle 的 (de) is used to link the pronoun 你 (nǐ, you) to the noun 生肖.
Which one should you use?
It is important to distinguish between different types of zodiacs. Use 生肖 (shēngxiào) specifically for the Chinese animal-based zodiac. If you are referring to Western star signs or constellations, use 星座 (xīngzuò) instead.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the particle 的 to indicate possession, connecting the person 你 to their zodiac sign 生肖.
How do you pronounce it?
nǐ de shēngxiào
Did you know?
- The cat is notably absent from the 生肖 list. Folk legends suggest the rat tricked the cat or that the cat simply forgot to attend the Great Race to determine the order.
- While many people think of the zodiac as a list of twelve animals, the term 生肖 (shēngxiào) actually contains the character 肖 (xiào), which means 'to resemble' or 'to look like'. This implies that you do not just have a sign, but you actually bear a likeness to that animal.
- In Chinese culture, some 生肖 are considered 'clashing' or incompatible. This can lead to strong social or family disapproval of a romantic relationship between two people with these signs.
Examples in context
- 我是龙I am a Dragon.
- 你知道你的生肖是什么吗？Nǐ zhīdào nǐ de shēngxiào shì shénme ma?Do you know what your zodiac is?
- 你的生肖是龙吗？Nǐ de shēngxiào shì lóng ma?Is your zodiac the dragon?
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about the Chinese New Year.
- 梓涵 Zihan你的生肖是什么？Nǐ de shēngxiào shì shénme?What is your zodiac?
- 伟 Wei我的生肖是兔。Wǒ de shēngxiào shì tù.My zodiac is the rabbit.
- 梓涵 Zihan哇，那真的很可爱。Wa, nà zhēn de hěn kě'ài.Wow, that is really cute.
- 伟 Wei谢谢，梓涵。Xièxiè, Zǐhán.Thanks, Zihan.
