What Is an “Enemy Year” in Chinese Astrology?

In Chinese astrology, an enemy year refers to a year ruled by the zodiac sign that clashes most with your own. Each of the 12 animal signs has one sign it’s traditionally considered incompatible with, its astrological “enemy.” When the year is ruled by that opposing sign, you may encounter more friction, delays, or emotional stress than usual.

Yet, enemy years aren’t only about hardship. Many believe they’re powerful times for learning, setting boundaries, and growing through challenge.

Before You Begin: Check Your Zodiac Animal

Your Chinese zodiac sign is based on the year you were born, but unlike Western astrology, it follows the lunar calendar, not the Gregorian one. This means that if you were born in January or early February, your sign may actually align with the previous year’s animal, depending on when the Lunar New Year began.

To find out your sign, you can:

• Look it up online using any free Chinese zodiac calculator
• Or check this article here to explore all signs by birth year

Once you know your sign, scroll down to see which years are considered your enemy years, and what kind of cosmic curveballs they may bring.

Enemy Sign Pairs & Years

Here’s a guide to each zodiac sign’s traditional “enemy” and the years when that energy is strongest.