The sexagenary cycle combining the ten heavenly stems and twelve earthly branches—a 60-term cycle used in the traditional calendar (e.g., for years and historically for days).
古文書には干支で年が記されていることがある。
Old documents sometimes record years using the sexagenary cycle.
今年は干支でいうと庚子（かのえね）にあたる。
This year corresponds to the sexagenary term Kōshi (kanoto-ne).
干支は暦や占いの文脈で今でも参照される。
The sexagenary cycle is still referred to in calendar and divination contexts.
The twelve-year Chinese zodiac cycle (the 12 animals: rat, ox, tiger, etc.). In modern Japan, 'eto' commonly refers to the animal for a given year.
私は寅年（虎年）の干支に生まれた。
I was born in the year of the tiger according to the zodiac.
年賀状には今年の干支のイラストを描く人が多い。
Many people draw the zodiac animal for the year on their New Year's cards.
赤ちゃんに干支にちなんだ名前をつける家庭もある。
Some families give babies names related to the year's zodiac animal.