THE CHINESE ANIMAL ZODIAC by Xu Menghong

zhōng guó shí èr shēng xiāo 中 国 十 二 生 肖 Chinese Zodiac by Xu Menghong

Objectives Zodiac animal names in Chinese Zodiac and its cultural value

 1. How many animals are there in Chinese Zodiacs? 12

2. Which animal ranks first among the Zodiac animals?

3. Which animal year is 2014?

4. What is the Zodiac system used for? A. To measure the years B. To measure persons’ ages C. To count hours of the day D. To count months of the year E. To predict a person’s personality F. To check the compatibility of couples or friends

5. What color of clothing should a person wear when it was his/ her animal year? A. WhiteB. Yellow  C. RedD. Blue

The Chinese animal signs are a 12-year cycle used for dating the years. They represent a cyclical concept of time, rather than the Western linear concept of time. The Chinese Lunar Calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, and is constructed in a different fashion than the Western solar calendar. In the Chinese calendar, the beginning of the year falls somewhere between late January and early February.

In traditional China, dating methods were cyclical, cyclical meaning something that is repeated time after time according to a pattern. A popular folk method which reflected this cyclical method of recording years are the Twelve Animal Signs. Every year is assigned an animal name or "sign" according to a repeating cycle: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Boar.

I am SHOO. 子鼠 zǐ shǔ You are imaginative, charming, and truly generous to the person you love. The Year Of The Rat

Who am I? 丑牛 chǒu niú NIU A born leader. The Year Of The Ox

My name is HOO. 寅虎 yín hǔ You are sensitive, emotional, and capable of great love. The Year Of The Tiger

TOO is me. 卯兔 mǎo tù You are the kind of person, that people like to be around, affectionate, obliging, always pleasant. The Year Of The Rabbit

LON 辰 龙 chén lónɡ Full of vitality and enthusiasm. You are intelligent, gifted, and a perfectionist. The Year Of The Dragon

I am SHER. 巳蛇 sì shé Rich in wisdom and charm, you are romantic and deep thinking. The Year Of The Snake

This is MA. 午马 wǔ mǎ While you’re intelligent and friendly, your capacity for hard work is amazing. Your are your own person-very independent. The Year Of The Horse

YOUNG. I am not that old. 未羊 wèi yánɡ The Sheep can be charming company. Your are elegant and artistic but the first to complain about things. The Year Of The Sheep

MONKEY is HOU. 申猴 shēn hóu You are a vary intelligent and a very clever wit. The Year Of The Monkey

I am JEE. 酉鸡 yǒujī A hard worker; shrewd and definite in decision making often speaking his mind. The Year Of The Rooster

GOU is me 戌狗 xūɡǒu You are honest, and faithful to those you love. The Year Of The Dog

Call me Mr. ZHU. 亥猪 hàizhū You are a splendid companion, an intellectual with a very strong need to set difficult goals and carry them out. You are sincere, tolerant, and honest but by expecting the same from others. The Year Of The Boar

SHOO NIU HOO TOO LON SHER MA YOUNG HOU JEE GOU ZHU 鼠牛虎兔龙蛇马羊猴鸡狗猪

SHOO: 鼠

NIU 牛

HOO 虎

TOO 兔

LON 龙

SHER 蛇

MA 马

YOUNG 羊

HOU 猴

JEE 鸡

GOU 狗

ZHU 猪

What are you?

nǐ shǔ shén me ？ 你属什么？ Which animal year were you born? wǒ shǔ 我属 …… I was born in the year of …. Practice 练习

NIUHOOYOUNG SHOOTOOGOU MASHERLON

BOAR MOUSE DOG MONKEY SHEEP RABBIT TIGER DRAGON HORSE ROOSTER SNAKE OX

NIUHOOYOUNG SHOOTOOGOU MASHERLON

NIUHOOYOUNG SHOOTOOGOU MASHERLON

NIUHOOYOUNG SHOOTOOGOU MASHERLON

NIUHOOYOUNG SHOOTOOGOU MASHERLON

yóupiào 邮票 stamps Jiǎnzhǐ 剪纸 paper cutting 火花 matchbox cover cìxìu 刺绣 embroidery

Homework Tell your family members which animal year they were born in and check their personality.