你属什么

You told your students your Chinese zodiac animal was a lion? Didn't they laugh?

They asked where the lion came in the list. I had no answer.

You mixed up star signs and Chinese zodiac animals. You should say, "I was born in the Year of the Horse."

So I didn't even know my own Chinese zodiac animal.

Remember this question first: "Ni shu shen me?" It asks for your Chinese zodiac animal.

Then I'll say, "Wo shu ma." Have I finally got it right?

Yes. Today we'll also work out how to find your animal and talk about it.

Good. We're covering animals in English class tomorrow. I'd better get this right.

What made you choose a lion? Did you go by your birth month?

Yes. My birthday is August 16, so my Western star sign is Leo.

Star signs depend on the month and day; Chinese zodiac animals mainly depend on the year.

So people born in the same year usually have the same animal?

Usually, yes. But January and February birthdays need a closer check.

I'll keep that little catch in mind. First I want to practice answering.

Sure. Let me ask again: what's your Chinese zodiac animal?

I'm a horse. To ask you back, can I just say, "And you?"

Yes. I'd answer, "I'm a snake." And there you are, having a conversation.

That's easier than explaining why my lion isn't on the list.

People also ask, "What's your shuxiang?" Shuxiang means the same thing as shengxiao.

Shengxiao and shuxiang. Two names for the same thing.

Let's check now. What year were you born in?

2002. And as I said, my birthday is August 16.

That settles it. Born in the summer of 2002 means you're a horse.

It's 2026, and I've recently turned twenty-four.

Right. When we recorded our first episode in March, you were still twenty-three.

You were twenty-four then. You've had a birthday since, too, right?

Yes. I was born on April 26, 2001.

So now you're twenty-five and I'm twenty-four. You're still the older one.

Your math is right. But you don't have to announce our ages every time you visit.

Don't worry. I'll just remember them so I don't guess wrong again.

Those two animal years come one after the other: snake, then horse.

So each year has an animal. How many animals are there?

Twelve in total. They take turns in a fixed order.

That's why they're called the twelve zodiac animals. Nobody picks a new one at random.

The first six are rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, and snake.

Then it's my turn: horse and goat. What comes after those?

Next come monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. Then it's back to rat.

Two groups are easier to remember than all twelve at once.

Yes. Start with your own animal, then learn the ones before and after it.

Snake before me, goat after me. Now I know where I fit.

After twelve years, it starts over. That's a cycle.

This is a horse year, so the next one will be 2038.

Exactly. You'll turn thirty-six in August that year.

That suddenly sounds far away. I'll focus on this year first.

There was no cat on that list. And no lion, either.

I know where my lion belongs now. But what about your cat, Xiao Hua?

Xiao Hua doesn't need to be on the list. She just sleeps and waits for food.

Sounds like she has an easier life than all twelve animals.

There are different folk stories about why the cat wasn't chosen. They're just stories to enjoy.

Got it. Stories can help us remember, but they aren't historical explanations.

Now, back to January and February. That's where mistakes happen most easily.

So not everyone born in 2002 is necessarily a horse?

Right. In everyday usage, the zodiac year usually changes at Chinese New Year.

Chinese New Year means the Spring Festival, not January 1 on the regular calendar.

Exactly. Someone born before the Spring Festival still has the previous year's animal.

So someone born in January 2002 could be a snake.

Yes. Chinese New Year was in February that year, so January was still in the snake year.

Then I shouldn't just use my birth year with any animal chart I find.

For January or February birthdays, check the exact date as well.

My birthday is in August, nowhere near Chinese New Year, so that's straightforward.

Yes. Also check whether your source uses Chinese New Year or a different rule.

There are other rules? I thought every source used the same one.

Some fortune-telling traditions use the start of spring, which differs from everyday usage.

We're practicing everyday conversation today, so we'll use Chinese New Year.

Right. Say which convention you're using, and there's less room for an argument.

I came to learn my animal and ended up learning to check the rules first.

Here's another common question: what kind of animal does yang refer to?

English uses both goat and sheep for that zodiac year, right?

Yes. In Chinese, saying "shu yang" is enough. You don't need to choose a kind.

Then I don't need two different kinds of sheep and goats on my students' cards.

Speaking of this year, have you noticed you have another special connection to it?

My animal is the horse, and this is a horse year. So it's my turn?

Exactly. The year of your own animal is called your benmingnian.

So this is my benmingnian, not yours.

Right. I'm a snake, so my last benmingnian was last year.

Then mine was in 2014, when I turned twelve.

Twenty-four this time, thirty-six next time. Twelve years between each one.

Grandma used to send me red socks. So that's what they meant.

Wearing red in your benmingnian is a traditional way of wishing for peace and safety.

Besides socks, there are red belts and red bracelets, right?

Yes. But not everyone wears them, and there isn't a strict rule.

That's a relief. Otherwise I might have to replace my whole wardrobe with red clothes.

One bracelet can carry the good wishes. You don't need red from head to toe.

But does wearing red actually make the year go more smoothly?

It's a kind wish. It can't guarantee that everything will go well.

I still need to prepare for work and watch where I'm going. Socks can't do everything.

Exactly. A red gift from family is often a way of showing they care.

Grandma didn't write anything grand. She just wanted me to stay safe and well.

So when you receive one, "Thank you for thinking of me" is a lovely response.

"Thank you for thinking of me." That's warmer than debating whether it works.

Here, this red bracelet is for you. A little belated good wish.

Really? Then I'll put it on now. No waiting for the next horse year.

Of course. It's still your benmingnian, so this is a good time for it.

The red looks rather good with my dark green shirt.

You can think about the outfit before the zodiac. That order works too.

I thought red gifts were only for Chinese New Year.

You don't need to wait for a festival. You can wish someone well any day.

I'll call Grandma tomorrow and thank her for always thinking of me.

I'm sure she'll be delighted to hear you say benmingnian.

As long as I don't tell her this is my lion year.

Here's a practical question: could asking about someone's animal feel intrusive?

I rarely ask people's ages directly in the UK, so I'm a little unsure.

Friends often ask casually, but you still need to see whether the person wants to talk about it.

Changing the question to an animal doesn't remove the privacy issue.

Knowing someone's zodiac animal can sometimes help you guess their age.

A horse could be twenty-four, or thirty-six.

Exactly. One cycle means twelve years, so the animal alone can't tell you for sure.

If I guess the wrong cycle, things could get awkward.

So you can leave it there. There's no need to calculate someone's age out loud.

I could just say, "You're a horse too? What a coincidence."

Yes. Keep the conversation going; you don't need to investigate the person.

If they say they're not sure, I don't need to keep asking.

You can say, "No worries. Let's talk about something else."

Can I change the subject that way if I don't want to answer, too?

Of course. You could also smile and say, "I'll keep my age a secret for now."

That's much better than making up an animal on the spot.

You might forget what you made up and give a different answer next time.

Then my rule is: talk about it if both people want to; otherwise, change the subject.

Good. Learning to talk also means learning to give the other person some space.

I should remember that too. It'll be useful in English class.

What else do you want to put on those zodiac cards for your students?

I've seen people say horses are lively and snakes are calm.

You can introduce that as a traditional saying, but not as a fact about someone's personality.

Otherwise, whenever I want to be lazy, people will ask why this horse isn't running.

When I get flustered, I'm not nearly as calm as the stories suggest.

So to know a person, we still need to listen to them and see what they do.

Exactly. An animal can start a conversation; it can't judge a person for you.

Then the cards will just have animals and years. The children can describe their own personalities.

You could also teach a good wish: ma dao cheng gong. It fits this year nicely.

Ma dao cheng gong. Does it wish someone smooth and speedy success?