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Year of the Monkey: Personality, Years, Elements and Compatibility
Quick answer: the Monkey (猴, Earthly Branch 申) is sign 9 of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals. Recent Monkey years are 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, and the next is 2028. Monkeys are known for being clever and inventive. Best matches: Rat, Dragon and Snake.
The Monkey is the zodiac's clever inventor. It came ninth in the Great Race after teaming up with the Goat and Rooster to cross the river. Monkeys are curious, witty and inventive, and they solve problems with flair.
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Monkey personality
| Strengths | Watch out for |
|---|---|
| Clever and inventive | Can be mischievous or vain |
| Curious and quick to learn | Easily bored |
| Witty and entertaining | May cut corners |
| Flexible problem-solver |
In love. Monkeys are playful, fun-loving partners who need mental stimulation. They show love through humor and surprises, and they commit when they find someone who keeps them interested.
At work. Monkeys thrive in technology, engineering, marketing, trading, entertainment and any field that rewards quick thinking and invention.
年份Year of the Monkey: every year and exact dates
Each Monkey 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1932 | Water Monkey (壬申) | Feb 6, 1932 – Jan 25, 1933 |
| 1944 | Wood Monkey (甲申) | Jan 25, 1944 – Feb 12, 1945 |
| 1956 | Fire Monkey (丙申) | Feb 12, 1956 – Jan 30, 1957 |
| 1968 | Earth Monkey (戊申) | Jan 30, 1968 – Feb 16, 1969 |
| 1980 | Metal Monkey (庚申) | Feb 16, 1980 – Feb 4, 1981 |
| 1992 | Water Monkey (壬申) | Feb 4, 1992 – Jan 22, 1993 |
| 2004 | Wood Monkey (甲申) | Jan 22, 2004 – Feb 8, 2005 |
| 2016 | Fire Monkey (丙申) | Feb 8, 2016 – Jan 27, 2017 |
| 2028 | Earth Monkey (戊申) | Jan 26, 2028 – Feb 12, 2029 |
| 2040 | Metal Monkey (庚申) | Feb 12, 2040 – Jan 31, 2041 |
五行The five types of Monkey
The Monkey 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 Monkey: 1944, 2004
Wood adds warmth, growth and a cooperative streak, so the Monkey of a Wood year tends to be generous, idealistic and good with people.
Fire Monkey: 1956, 2016
Fire adds passion and drive, so the Monkey of a Fire year tends to be bolder, more expressive and quicker to act than other Monkeys.
Earth Monkey: 1968, 2028
Earth adds stability and realism, so the Monkey of an Earth year tends to be steadier, more practical and more patient than other Monkeys.
Metal Monkey: 1980, 2040
Metal adds determination and strength of will, so the Monkey of a Metal year tends to be focused, principled and hard to discourage.
Water Monkey: 1932, 1992
Water adds intuition and flexibility, so the Monkey of a Water year tends to be perceptive, diplomatic and good at adapting.
See the Chinese zodiac elements table for every year.
合婚Monkey compatibility with all 12 signs
| Pair | Type | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 鼠 Monkey & Rat | Natural Allies (Water Trine) | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| 牛 Monkey & Ox | Neutral Match | ★★★½ (3.5/5) |
| 虎 Monkey & Tiger | Opposites (Clash) | ★½ (1.5/5) |
| 兔 Monkey & Rabbit | Neutral Match | ★★★ (3/5) |
| 龙 Monkey & Dragon | Natural Allies (Water Trine) | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| 蛇 Monkey & Snake | Secret Friends (Six Harmony) | ★★★★½ (4.5/5) |
| 马 Monkey & Horse | Neutral Match | ★★★ (3/5) |
| 羊 Monkey & Goat | Neutral Match | ★★★½ (3.5/5) |
| 猴 Monkey & Monkey | Same Sign | ★★★★ (4/5) |
| 鸡 Monkey & Rooster | Neutral Match | ★★★½ (3.5/5) |
| 狗 Monkey & Dog | Neutral Match | ★★★½ (3.5/5) |
| 猪 Monkey & Pig | Harm Pair | ★★ (2/5) |
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 Monkey in BaZi: Earthly Branch 申
| Earthly Branch | 申 (Shen) |
|---|---|
| Fixed element · polarity | Metal · Yang |
| Hour | 3 pm – 5 pm |
| Solar month | about Aug 8 – Sep 7 |
| Direction · season | West-southwest · early autumn |
| Hidden stems | 庚 Geng Metal · 壬 Ren Water · 戊 Wu Earth |
In a BaZi chart the Monkey 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 Monkey in 2027
2027 is the Year of the Fire Goat. For the Monkey: No clash with Tai Sui. Fire tempers your Metal. Read the Year of the Monkey 2027 forecast.
问答Questions about the Year of the Monkey
What years are the Year of the Monkey?
Recent Monkey years are 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016. The next Year of the Monkey is 2028, starting January 26, 2028. Each year begins at Chinese New Year, so people born in January or early February may belong to the previous sign.
What is the Monkey's personality?
Monkeys are known for being clever and inventive, curious and quick to learn and witty and entertaining. Their weak spots: can be mischievous or vain; easily bored; may cut corners.
Who is the Monkey most compatible with?
The Monkey's best matches are the Rat and Dragon (its trine) and the Snake (its secret friend). The most challenging match is the Tiger, the sign directly opposite.
What element is the Monkey?
The Monkey's fixed element is Metal and it is a Yang sign. Each Monkey year also has its own element from the Heavenly Stem, so there are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water Monkeys.
What time of day is the Monkey?
The Monkey rules the double hour from 3 pm – 5 pm. In a BaZi chart, people born in that window have the Monkey in their hour pillar.
See which element balances your chart and what your Day Master says about you. Free reading.
Get your free readingRat · Ox · Tiger · Rabbit · Dragon · Snake · Horse · Goat · Monkey · Rooster · Dog · Pig