Water accompanies the Rabbit in the Chinese zodiac year that began on January 22, 2023.
The 2023 lunar year is commonly called the Year of the Water Rabbit. Chinese zodiac designations combine one of 12 earthly-branch animals with one of five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, or Water. The element changes the full designation and follows a repeating 60-year cycle.
January 22, 2023, was Lunar New Year’s Day for that cycle. The year ended with the next Lunar New Year on February 10, 2024, which began the Dragon year. The Rabbit is the fourth animal in the standard sequence.
A common mix-up is calling 2023 simply a Rabbit year without identifying its element. That shorter label is acceptable in casual conversation, but Water Rabbit is the more specific traditional designation. Births before January 22, 2023, belong to the preceding Tiger year.