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Year of the Goat (Sheep): Personality, Years, Elements and Compatibility
Quick answer: the Goat (羊, Earthly Branch 未) is sign 8 of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals. Recent Goat years are 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, and the next is 2027. Goats are known for being kind and compassionate. Best matches: Pig, Rabbit and Horse.
The Goat, also called the Sheep or Ram, is the zodiac's gentle artist. In the Great Race it worked with the Monkey and Rooster to cross the river and came eighth. Goats are kind, creative and caring, and they prefer harmony to conflict.
Your year animal is one of eight characters in your birth chart. See your full Four Pillars and Day Master, free.
Get your free reading性格Goat personality
| Strengths | Watch out for |
|---|---|
| Kind and compassionate | Can be anxious or pessimistic |
| Creative and artistic | Avoids hard decisions |
| Calm and easygoing | Needs reassurance |
| Loyal to loved ones |
In love. Goats are affectionate, devoted partners who need security and tenderness. They create a beautiful, comfortable home and flourish with someone protective and steady.
At work. Goats shine in the arts, design, music, care work, teaching, gardening and any work that rewards sensitivity and imagination.
年份Year of the Goat: every year and exact dates
Each Goat year starts on Chinese New Year and ends the day before the next one. Born in January or early February? Check the dates below, or use the Chinese zodiac calculator.
| Year | Type | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| 1931 | Metal Goat (辛未) | Feb 17, 1931 – Feb 5, 1932 |
| 1943 | Water Goat (癸未) | Feb 5, 1943 – Jan 24, 1944 |
| 1955 | Wood Goat (乙未) | Jan 24, 1955 – Feb 11, 1956 |
| 1967 | Fire Goat (丁未) | Feb 9, 1967 – Jan 29, 1968 |
| 1979 | Earth Goat (己未) | Jan 28, 1979 – Feb 15, 1980 |
| 1991 | Metal Goat (辛未) | Feb 15, 1991 – Feb 3, 1992 |
| 2003 | Water Goat (癸未) | Feb 1, 2003 – Jan 21, 2004 |
| 2015 | Wood Goat (乙未) | Feb 19, 2015 – Feb 7, 2016 |
| 2027 | Fire Goat (丁未) | Feb 6, 2027 – Jan 25, 2028 |
| 2039 | Earth Goat (己未) | Jan 24, 2039 – Feb 11, 2040 |
五行The five types of Goat
The Goat comes back every 12 years, but with a different element each time, so the same element and animal repeat every 60 years. The element shades the personality:
Wood Goat: 1955, 2015
Wood adds warmth, growth and a cooperative streak, so the Goat of a Wood year tends to be generous, idealistic and good with people.
Fire Goat: 1967, 2027
Fire adds passion and drive, so the Goat of a Fire year tends to be bolder, more expressive and quicker to act than other Goats.
Earth Goat: 1979, 2039
Earth adds stability and realism, so the Goat of an Earth year tends to be steadier, more practical and more patient than other Goats.
Metal Goat: 1931, 1991
Metal adds determination and strength of will, so the Goat of a Metal year tends to be focused, principled and hard to discourage.
Water Goat: 1943, 2003
Water adds intuition and flexibility, so the Goat of a Water year tends to be perceptive, diplomatic and good at adapting.
See the Chinese zodiac elements table for every year.
合婚Goat compatibility with all 12 signs
| Pair | Type | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 鼠 Goat & Rat | Harm Pair | ★★ (2/5) |
| 牛 Goat & Ox | Opposites (Clash) | ★½ (1.5/5) |
| 虎 Goat & Tiger | Neutral Match | ★★★ (3/5) |
| 兔 Goat & Rabbit | Natural Allies (Wood Trine) | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| 龙 Goat & Dragon | Neutral Match | ★★★½ (3.5/5) |
| 蛇 Goat & Snake | Neutral Match | ★★★½ (3.5/5) |
| 马 Goat & Horse | Secret Friends (Six Harmony) | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| 羊 Goat & Goat | Same Sign | ★★★★ (4/5) |
| 猴 Goat & Monkey | Neutral Match | ★★★½ (3.5/5) |
| 鸡 Goat & Rooster | Neutral Match | ★★★½ (3.5/5) |
| 狗 Goat & Dog | Punishment Pattern | ★★½ (2.5/5) |
| 猪 Goat & Pig | Natural Allies (Wood Trine) | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Ratings follow classical relationships between the Earthly Branches: trine and Six Harmony pairs are the best matches, the clash sign is the most challenging. See the full compatibility chart.
地支The Goat in BaZi: Earthly Branch 未
| Earthly Branch | 未 (Wei) |
|---|---|
| Fixed element · polarity | Earth · Yin |
| Hour | 1 pm – 3 pm |
| Solar month | about Jul 7 – Aug 7 |
| Direction · season | South-southwest · late summer |
| Hidden stems | 己 Ji Earth · 丁 Ding Fire · 乙 Yi Wood |
In a BaZi chart the Goat can appear in any of the four pillars: the year (your generation), the month, the day or the hour. The hidden stems are the elements stored inside the branch, which is why two people with the same year animal can have very different charts.
流年The Goat in 2027
2027 is the Year of the Fire Goat. For the Goat: Ben Ming Nian, your own zodiac year (本命年). It's your year, and that's a mixed blessing. Read the Year of the Goat 2027 forecast.
问答Questions about the Year of the Goat
What years are the Year of the Goat?
Recent Goat years are 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015. The next Year of the Goat is 2027, starting February 6, 2027. Each year begins at Chinese New Year, so people born in January or early February may belong to the previous sign.
What is the Goat's personality?
Goats are known for being kind and compassionate, creative and artistic and calm and easygoing. Their weak spots: can be anxious or pessimistic; avoids hard decisions; needs reassurance.
Who is the Goat most compatible with?
The Goat's best matches are the Pig and Rabbit (its trine) and the Horse (its secret friend). The most challenging match is the Ox, the sign directly opposite.
What element is the Goat?
The Goat's fixed element is Earth and it is a Yin sign. Each Goat year also has its own element from the Heavenly Stem, so there are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water Goats.
What time of day is the Goat?
The Goat rules the double hour from 1 pm – 3 pm. In a BaZi chart, people born in that window have the Goat in their hour pillar.
See which element balances your chart and what your Day Master says about you. Free reading.
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