noun
year of the Sheep
Refers to the year of the Sheep in the Chinese zodiac. Used in contexts like astrology, New Year greetings, and birth year references.
来年は未年です。
Next year is the year of the Sheep.
彼女は未年生まれだ。
She was born in the year of the Sheep.
羊 means 'sheep' as an animal, while 未年 specifically refers to the zodiac year.
Compound of 未 (hitsuji, 'the Sheep (eighth sign of the Chinese zodiac)') + 年 (toshi/doshi, 'year'). The reading ひつじ for 未 is the kun'yomi associated with the zodiac animal.