属 + 生肖
to be born in the year of (an animal)
Structure
人 属 生肖 ／ 人 （是） 属 生肖 的
What it means
'To be born in the year of (an animal)': gives someone's Chinese zodiac sign. 属 is read shǔ.
How it is built
Person + 属 + animal, or person + (是) 属 + animal + 的: 我属马 / 我是属马的 (I am a horse). Ask 你属什么？ or, in the north, 你属啥？
When to use it
Everyday spoken Chinese. Asking someone's sign is a tactful way to place their age; twelve years older is 大一轮.
Watch out
属 takes the animal directly: ✗我是狗 calls yourself a dog; ✓我属狗。 Don't confuse it with 属于 (to belong to).
Examples
我属马，今年是我的本命年。
I am a horse, so this is my zodiac year.
“您属什么的？”“我属虎的，比你大一轮。”
“What sign are you?” “A tiger, twelve years older than you.”
Learn this in Lesson 214 · HSK 9+: 生肖与干支 (The zodiac and the sixty-year cycle)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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