Hi, my name is Mojca. I am from Slovenia in Europe and I and I work as a student advisor at our Shanghai school.Year of the Goat: The Unluckiest Chinese Zodiac?
Year of the Goat Personality, Compatibility in Romantic Relationships and Meaning in Chinese Culture
Today, we’re continuing our Chinese zodiac series by exploring the story, the cultural perception and the influence of the seventh year in the lunar calendar cycle:
The Year of the Goat 羊年 (yáng nián).
Despite ‘goat’ these days being more commonly associated with the ‘Greatest of All Time’, in Chinese culture, it’s often considered the unluckiest zodiac.
In this blog, we’ll get into why that is, as well as explore compatibility with other zodiac signs, year of the goat personality, celebrities born in the year of the goat and more!
Years of the Goat include:
1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027.
Year Of The Goat || The Year of the Goat Origin Story
Year Of The Goat || The Year of the Goat Meaning in Chinese Culture
Year Of The Goat || Celebrities Born in The Year of The Goat
Year of the Goat || Auspicious Symbols for the Year of the Goat
Year Of The Goat || Lucky Symbols for the Year of the Goat
Year Of The Goat || Unlucky Symbols for the Year of the Goat
Year Of The Goat || Just How Important Is the Year of the Goat in Modern-day China? Work, Relationships, Medicine & Tourism
Year Of The Goat || The Goat in Chinese Language
Year Of The Goat || Naming Year of the Goat Children
Year Of The Goat || Chinese Dishes Named After the Goat
Year Of The Goat || The Influence of The Chinese Zodiac On A Larger Scale
Year of the Goat || FAQs
Year Of The Goat || The Year of the Goat Origin Story
The Goat’s Great Race 十二生肖的竞赛 (shí’èr shēngxiào de jìngsài) story is quite different to the other animals.
Realising that it stood little chance of being able to cross the rushing river alone, it decided to team up with the Rooster and Monkey to help each other make it across on a log.
When the trio arrived on the shore, they had a decision to make: who would cross the line first?
Easy! Because the Goat was the most harmonious of the group, they agreed that it should claim eighth place, with the Rooster and Monkey following closely behind.
Year Of The Goat || The Year of the Goat Meaning in Chinese Culture
Throughout history, goats have been cherished in China for their role in agriculture, providing milk, wool, and companionship to farmers.
Their presence is believed to bring peace and contentment to households, fostering a sense of warmth and unity among family members.
As a result, the Year of the Goat holds special significance in Chinese culture, symbolising harmony, compassion, and abundance.
During the Year of the Goat, people are encouraged to embrace the Goat’s qualities of compassion, creativity, and harmony, within themselves and their communities.
So, what does it mean if you were born in the Year of the Goat?
Based on the Goat’s role in the Great Race, it should come as no surprise that people born in this year are known for their gentle nature and harmonious spirit. They’re kind, empathetic and calm, and they enjoy spending a lot of time with their own thoughts.
Goats care deeply about the people around them and strive to ensure that environments they’re in are harmonious.
That’s not to say they’re pushovers, however. Goats might be shy, but they hold strong opinions, and they aren’t afraid to express them. They’re strong and resilient and they don’t give up easily.
The less positive side of this is that Goats tend to seek the approval of others a little too much. Compliments and flattery mean a lot to them, which means the reverse is also true.
Do any of these characteristics sound familiar to you? Find out if you were born in the Year of the Goat using our zodiac calculator.
Chinese Zodiacs || Year of the Tiger (A Complete Guide)
The Year of the Tiger 🐯 Everything You Need to Know || Luck, Culture and Compatibility In this 12-part blog post series, we’re taking you on a tour of the Chinese zodiac animals. From what they represent to how they…
Year Of The Goat || Celebrities Born in The Year of The Goat
Want to know which stars were born in the year of the goat? Here’s some you’ll probably recognize! 👇
Meryl Streep: 1943
Julia Roberts: 1967
Nicole Kidman: 1967
Kate Hudson: 1979
Chris Pratt: 1979
Year of the Goat || Auspicious Symbols for the Year of the Goat
Bad news if you were born in the Year of the Goat!
Although the zodiac animal embodies a number of positive traits, the year of the goat is actually considered unlucky.
In fact, there’s a popular Chinese saying that goes 十羊九不全 – Shí yáng jiǔ bùquán . This translates to ‘Only one out of ten people born in a year of the Goat finds happiness‘, meaning that most babies born in a Year of the Goat will have very bad luck.
That said, you can try and influence your luck by paying attention to some auspicious and inauspicious symbols specific to your astrological sign.
Year Of The Goat || Lucky Symbols for the Year of the Goat
| Lucky days | 7th and 30th of any Chinese lunar calendar month |
| Lucky months | 5th, 7th, and 11th Chinese Lunar Months |
| Lucky numbers | 2, 7 and any combination of numbers containing them |
| Lucky colours | Brown, red, and purple |
| Lucky flowers | Carnations and primroses |
| Lucky directions | North |
The Year of the Goat might have lucky symbols, but like the other Zodiac signs, it also has unlucky ones you’ll want to be aware of.
Year Of The Goat || Unlucky Symbols for the Year of the Goat
| Unlucky days | 6th, 9th and 12th of any Chinese lunar calendar month |
| Unlucky months | 3rd, 6th, and 9th Chinese Lunar Months |
| Unlucky numbers | 4 and 9 (and any combination) |
| Unlucky colours | Blue, black |
| Unlucky direction | Southwest |
If you were born in the Year of the Goat, you can increase your chances of having a lucky year by avoiding your unlucky colours and numbers and paying close attention to your auspicious signs during your unlucky months.
Year Of The Goat || Just How Important Is the Year of the Goat in Modern-day China?
Although it dates back centuries, the Chinese zodiac is still widely respected in modern China, and its influence can be felt in everything from personal relationships to work. Here’s how the Year of the Goat impacts people in China.
💼 The Goat Zodiac at Work
Goats are some of the most creative characters in the Chinese zodiac. They typically love the arts and music, which makes them particularly suitable for creative careers.
Their empathetic nature also makes them good candidates for roles in education, healthcare or charities – anywhere they can use their skills to positively impact others.
It’s often true that Goat’s timid nature means they don’t usually find their way into leadership roles. But despite this, they are great team players, who love being surrounded by other people.
Goats tend to be very private people, so it may take some work to get to know your colleagues born during this year. But know that once you do, they’ll look out for you, no matter what.
These people work well with Horses, as they both balance each other’s skills in the workplace. Their personalities also gel with Rabbits and Pigs.
💖 The Year of the Goat Zodiac in Relationships
Goat’s passive nature usually makes them the quieter half of a couple. They are usually quite sensitive and easily influenced by their partner.
Because they care so much about others, the end of a relationship can spell total heartbreak for Goats. So if you’re dating one, be kind!
Did you know that Chinese families also often have a say in who their son or daughter dates?
And it’s bad news for Goats, unfortunately.
That bad luck we mentioned earlier is thought to show up mainly in their love lives in the form of failed marriages and unhappy relationships.
According to the Independent, one eligible bachelorette was rejected by a potential partner’s parents simply because of her Zodiac sign!
If you’re a Goat, hopefully your kind hearted nature will win them over. Just make sure to look for a Horse, a Rabbit or a Pig, as you’re most compatible with people born in these years.
💊 The Goat in Chinese Medicine
Unlike some of the other zodiac animals, like the Snake or the Tiger, the Goat doesn’t play a significant role in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
However, goat meat is considered a ‘warm’ food by TCM practitioners, which means it’s believed to have warming properties that generate internal warmth and good circulation.
These foods are typically recommended during colder winter months to promote good health.
✈️ The Year of the Goat and Tourism
Some people also use their zodiac signs to choose travel destinations. This has become a popular trend among travel companies, especially at the start of a new year
If you were born in the Year of the Goat, you might find that you’re best suited to holiday destinations that allow you to express your creativity and enjoy a relaxing break.
Our recommendations? Take a bamboo raft down the Li River in Guilin before joining a calligraphy workshop in Yangshuo ( 阳朔 yángshuò). Or visit the laid-back city of Xiamen ( 厦门 xiàmén) for a chilled holiday by the sea.
Chinese Zodiacs || Year of the Dragon (A Complete Guide)
Everything You Need to Know About the Year of the Dragon🐉 Personality, Compatibility and Lucky Symbols 2024 is coming and that means one thing: it’s the Year of the Dragon (龙年 lóng nián)! In this 12-part blog post series, we’re…
Year Of The Goat || The Goat in Chinese Language
The word for ‘goat’ is used in various Chinese idioms to express different ideas. Here are some of the most common (and useful) examples of phrases you might want to use.
Goat-related idioms and phrases
羊入虎口
yáng rù hǔ kǒu
The goat enters the tiger’s mouth
This idiom describes a situation where someone walks into danger or puts themselves in harm’s way.
羊毛出在羊身上
yáng máo chū zài yáng shēn shàng
The wool comes from the sheep’s own body
This idiom expresses the idea that resources or benefits come from one’s own efforts or resources.
羊群里的一只
yáng qún lǐ de yī zhī
One of the sheep in the flock
This idiom describes someone who follows the crowd or conforms to the group without thinking for themselves.
掛羊頭賣狗肉
guàyángtóumàigǒuròu
To display a goat’s head but sell dog meat instead
This idiom is the Chinese equivalent of saying ‘to bait and switch’ – where you lure someone in with one thing and then switch to offering something else.
Year Of The Goat || Naming Year of the Goat Children
It’s not uncommon for parents around the world to choose a baby name based on its meaning. The same is true in China, only here parents may also choose their children’s names based on their zodiac sign’s auspicious characters.
For Goats, those characters are similar to those of the Horse. They include the radicals grass (艹), wheat (麦) or foot (足) can be considered lucky.
Here are some auspicious characters for Year of the Goat babies:
跋
(bá) – Trample
跳 (tiào) – Jump
[speaj 秋] (qiū) – Autumn
科 (kē) – Branch of study
[speaK 菊] (jú) – Chrysanthemum
叶 (yè) – Leaf
Do you have a Chinese name already? If not, we’ve got you covered. Fill in our Chinese Name Generator, and we’ll select one for you!
Year Of The Goat || Chinese Dishes Named After the Goat
Like in many other countries, lamb is a popular meat found in many dishes. As a ‘warm’ food, you’ll mainly find it in delicacies from colder regions, such as those in the north. Here are some to look out for and try.
Lamb Skewers
羊肉串
(yáng ròu chuàn)
Lamb skewers are a popular street food dish in China, particularly in Beijing and other northern regions. Chunks of tender lamb meat are marinated in a delicious mixture of spices and then grilled over an open flame.
They are typically served hot and seasoned with cumin, chilli powder, and salt, and best eaten on small roadside tables.
Lamb Soup 羊肉汤 (yáng ròu tāng)
Lamb soup is a hearty dish commonly found in regions with a colder climate. It consists of tender lamb meat simmered in a flavorful broth with vegetables, such as carrots, potatoes, and onions. Perfect for a cold winter’s day!
Stir-Fried Lamb with Noodles 羊肉炒面 (yáng ròu chǎo miàn)
Stir-fried lamb with noodles is a savoury and satisfying dish from Xinjiang, in northwestern China. Thinly sliced lamb meat is stir-fried with onions, bell peppers, and spices, then tossed with chewy hand-pulled noodles. You’ll find this in Lanzhou Noodle shops (兰州拉面店 Lánzhōu lāmiàn diàn) across the country.
Want to explore the influence of the zodiac animals on Chinese culture, chat about food or learn some new idioms? Check out our Flexi Classes for on-demand Chinese lessons you can take whenever you like. No awkward time-zone challenges and no awkward fixed schedules.
Year Of The Goat || The Influence of The Chinese Zodiac On A Larger Scale
An individual’s decision of who to marry or how to name their child might seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things.
But when enough of China’s 1.3 billion people make them, small individual choices can have a huge real-world impact on things as important as the population.
And because the Year of the Goat is considered an unlucky year to have children, many Chinese parents will actively avoid falling pregnant around this time.
So unlike the Year of the Dragon, when birth rates rise rapidly, the Year of the Goat sees a sharp decline. This may sound silly, but it has a lasting effect on Chinese society, from the number of kids in a school year to the demand for national services.
Year of the Goat || FAQs
When is the next Year of the Goat?
The Chinese zodiac calendar is 12 years long, which means the next Year of the Horse will be 2027. Previous years included 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015.
What is my Chinese zodiac sign?
Use our Zodiac calculator to find out!
What signs is the Goat most compatible with?
People born in the Year of the Goat are romantically compatible with Horses, Rabbits, Pigs.
Is the Year of the Goat lucky?
No. The Year of the Goat is considered unlucky in Chinese culture due to the fact that goats are not natural leaders. They are thought to have bad luck in love and life in general.
What is the Year of the Goat personality like?
People born in the Year of the Goat are calm, gentle and kind hearted. They care deeply about the people around them and will do their best to keep others happy. This can sometimes mean they follow the crowd and try hard to please people.
What comes after the year of the Goat?
The Year of the Monkey follows the Year of the Goat.
Want more from LTL?
If you wish to hear more from LTL Mandarin School why not join our mailing list.
We give plenty of handy information on learning Chinese, useful apps to learn the language and everything going on at our LTL schools!
Sign up below and become part of our ever-growing community!
BONUS | Want to study the local dialect known as Shanghainese? We provide Shanghainese Classes in person and online.
