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Chinese zodiac, zodiac cycle, zodiac sign
The twelve-year cycle of animals used in East Asian calendars. Each year is associated with one of twelve animals: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and boar. Commonly asked about in Japanese social conversation.
Usage
Strictly speaking, 干支 refers to the full sexagenary cycle (十干十二支), combining the ten heavenly stems (十干) with the twelve earthly branches (十二支). In everyday Japanese, however, 干支 is used to mean simply the twelve zodiac animals (十二支). Since the cycle repeats every twelve years, someone's 干支 hints at their age without asking it directly.
Types
子 (rat), 丑 (ox), 寅 (tiger), 卯 (rabbit), 辰 (dragon), 巳 (snake), 午 (horse), 未 (sheep), 申 (monkey), 酉 (rooster), 戌 (dog), 亥 (boar)