Europe has 12 constellations,while China has 12 animals symbolising the 12 branches used to designate years.

欧洲人有十二星座，中国人有十二生肖

The 12 animals finish a cycle every 12 years and each of them guards one year.

十二生肖以十二年为一个周期，以十二种动物轮流当班。

Chinese believe that those who are born in a certain year would inherit the traits of the animal guarding that year.

中国人认为相应年份出生的人都有自己的特殊品质。

Rats are wise and cattle are hard-working. Tigers are courageous and rabbits are prudent. Dragons are rich and respectful,and snakes are romantic. Horses are fast and a sheep are sincere. Monkeys are smart and flexible,while chickens are endowed with beauty. Dogs are faithful and pigs are amiable.

老鼠代表智慧，牛代表勤奋，老虎代表勇猛，兔子代表谨慎，龙代表富贵，蛇代表浪漫，马代表速度，羊代表忠诚，猴子代表灵活，鸡代表美丽，狗代表忠诚，猪代表随和。

Do you know what your symbolic animal denoting the year of your birth?

你了解自己的属相吗？