Samjae checker
Choose a zodiac animal to see the years when Samjae comes and its entering, staying and leaving order. It isn't made to scare you — it's made so you can know when it is and move on.
Not sure of your zodiac animal? Enter your birth year below.
In Saju, the year changes at Ipchun (around February 3–5). If you were born in January or early February, you may take the previous year's zodiac animal. Check exactly with the Manseryeok calculator.
Years when Samjae comes
Each day matters more than the word Samjae
Mutal Unnie doesn't scare you with Samjae. Instead, when you add an important day, it shows you the D-day and that day's rhythm. Adding events is unlimited and free, and the evening-before briefing can be unlocked with Full Care.
Get the app for iPhone & AndroidWhat is Samjae?
It's a period believed to come for three years out of every twelve. Each Three Harmony group — the zodiac animals grouped in threes — has set years when Samjae comes.
| Three Harmony group | Zodiac animals | Years when Samjae comes |
|---|---|---|
| Sin-Ja-Jin (Water group) | Monkey, Rat, Dragon | Years of the Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon |
| Sa-Yu-Chuk (Metal group) | Snake, Rooster, Ox | Years of the Pig, Rat, Ox |
| In-O-Sul (Fire group) | Tiger, Horse, Dog | Years of the Monkey, Rooster, Dog |
| Hae-Myo-Mi (Wood group) | Pig, Rabbit, Sheep | Years of the Snake, Horse, Sheep |
There are four groups of 3 years each, so a full round takes 12 years. That means everyone spends 3 years out of every 12 — a quarter of their life — in Samjae. It doesn't single out unlucky people; it simply comes around in turn.
Entering, staying and leaving Samjae
What should I be careful about in Samjae?
I'll be honest. Samjae is determined by your zodiac animal alone. Everyone born in the same year has the same Samjae. It judges a whole year by looking at just one character of your eight Saju characters, so it's far too coarse to capture individual differences.
That's why we don't use Samjae to scare you. But if “I heard I should be careful this year” is weighing on your mind, it can actually cloud your judgment. In that case, here's how I'd suggest using it.
- Don't put off big things just because it's Samjae. 3 years out of every 12 isn't something you can simply postpone.
- Instead, get into the habit of double-checking decisions that are hard to undo. That's a good habit whether it's Samjae or not.
- If you're curious about the rhythms of your whole Saju, first look at your Eight Characters in the Manseryeok calculator.
Samjae in 2027 is covered in more detail in 2027 Samjae: which zodiac animals and when.
FAQ
Which zodiac animals are in Samjae now?
From 2025 to 2027, people born in the Years of the Pig, Rabbit and Sheep are in Samjae (三災, a traditional three-year caution period). 2025 is entering Samjae, 2026 is staying Samjae, and 2027 is leaving Samjae. After that, from 2028 to 2030, it's the Tiger, Horse and Dog.
Why does Samjae last 3 years?
Because each Three Harmony group — the twelve zodiac animals grouped in threes — has three set years when Samjae comes. There are four groups of 3 years each, so a full round takes 12 years. As a result, everyone spends 3 years out of every 12 in Samjae — a quarter of their life.
What are entering, staying and leaving Samjae?
They're the names for the three years of Samjae, in order. The first year is entering Samjae (deul-samjae), when it comes in; the second is staying Samjae (nul-samjae), when it stays; and the third is leaving Samjae (nal-samjae), when it goes out. Traditionally, the first year is seen as the one to be most careful about.
I was born in January — how do I work out my zodiac animal?
In Saju, the year changes at Ipchun (立春, Start of Spring). Ipchun falls around February 3–5 each year, so if you were born in January or early February, you may take the previous year's zodiac animal. For example, someone born before 10:46 a.m. on February 4, 2027 is a Horse of 2026.