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Year of the Tiger: Personality, Years, Elements and Compatibility
Quick answer: the Tiger (虎, Earthly Branch 寅) is sign 3 of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals. Recent Tiger years are 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022, and the next is 2034. Tigers are known for being brave and confident. Best matches: Horse, Dog and Pig.
The Tiger is the zodiac's brave heart. It crossed the river in the Great Race by sheer strength and finished third. Tigers are confident, independent and drawn to challenges, and they will defend the people they love.
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Tiger personality
| Strengths | Watch out for |
|---|---|
| Brave and confident | Impulsive under pressure |
| Generous and protective | Dislikes being told what to do |
| Inspiring natural leader | Can take risks too quickly |
| Acts on conviction |
In love. Tigers love passionately and openly. They want a partner who respects their independence and matches their energy, and they are fiercely loyal once committed.
At work. Tigers thrive in leadership, entrepreneurship, the military and emergency services, sports, activism and any role that needs courage and initiative.
年份Year of the Tiger: every year and exact dates
Each Tiger 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1926 | Fire Tiger (丙寅) | Feb 13, 1926 – Feb 1, 1927 |
| 1938 | Earth Tiger (戊寅) | Jan 31, 1938 – Feb 18, 1939 |
| 1950 | Metal Tiger (庚寅) | Feb 17, 1950 – Feb 5, 1951 |
| 1962 | Water Tiger (壬寅) | Feb 5, 1962 – Jan 24, 1963 |
| 1974 | Wood Tiger (甲寅) | Jan 23, 1974 – Feb 10, 1975 |
| 1986 | Fire Tiger (丙寅) | Feb 9, 1986 – Jan 28, 1987 |
| 1998 | Earth Tiger (戊寅) | Jan 28, 1998 – Feb 15, 1999 |
| 2010 | Metal Tiger (庚寅) | Feb 14, 2010 – Feb 2, 2011 |
| 2022 | Water Tiger (壬寅) | Feb 1, 2022 – Jan 21, 2023 |
| 2034 | Wood Tiger (甲寅) | Feb 19, 2034 – Feb 7, 2035 |
五行The five types of Tiger
The Tiger 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 Tiger: 1974, 2034
Wood adds warmth, growth and a cooperative streak, so the Tiger of a Wood year tends to be generous, idealistic and good with people.
Fire Tiger: 1926, 1986
Fire adds passion and drive, so the Tiger of a Fire year tends to be bolder, more expressive and quicker to act than other Tigers.
Earth Tiger: 1938, 1998
Earth adds stability and realism, so the Tiger of an Earth year tends to be steadier, more practical and more patient than other Tigers.
Metal Tiger: 1950, 2010
Metal adds determination and strength of will, so the Tiger of a Metal year tends to be focused, principled and hard to discourage.
Water Tiger: 1962, 2022
Water adds intuition and flexibility, so the Tiger of a Water year tends to be perceptive, diplomatic and good at adapting.
See the Chinese zodiac elements table for every year.
合婚Tiger compatibility with all 12 signs
| Pair | Type | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 鼠 Tiger & Rat | Neutral Match | ★★★½ (3.5/5) |
| 牛 Tiger & Ox | Neutral Match | ★★★ (3/5) |
| 虎 Tiger & Tiger | Same Sign | ★★★★ (4/5) |
| 兔 Tiger & Rabbit | Neutral Match | ★★★½ (3.5/5) |
| 龙 Tiger & Dragon | Neutral Match | ★★★ (3/5) |
| 蛇 Tiger & Snake | Harm Pair | ★½ (1.5/5) |
| 马 Tiger & Horse | Natural Allies (Fire Trine) | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| 羊 Tiger & Goat | Neutral Match | ★★★ (3/5) |
| 猴 Tiger & Monkey | Opposites (Clash) | ★½ (1.5/5) |
| 鸡 Tiger & Rooster | Neutral Match | ★★★ (3/5) |
| 狗 Tiger & Dog | Natural Allies (Fire Trine) | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| 猪 Tiger & Pig | Secret Friends (Six Harmony) | ★★★★★ (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 Tiger in BaZi: Earthly Branch 寅
| Earthly Branch | 寅 (Yin) |
|---|---|
| Fixed element · polarity | Wood · Yang |
| Hour | 3 am – 5 am |
| Solar month | about Feb 4 – Mar 5 |
| Direction · season | East-northeast · early spring |
| Hidden stems | 甲 Jia Wood · 丙 Bing Fire · 戊 Wu Earth |
In a BaZi chart the Tiger 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 Tiger in 2027
2027 is the Year of the Fire Goat. For the Tiger: No clash with Tai Sui. Your Wood feeds the year's Fire. Read the Year of the Tiger 2027 forecast.
问答Questions about the Year of the Tiger
What years are the Year of the Tiger?
Recent Tiger years are 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022. The next Year of the Tiger is 2034, starting February 19, 2034. Each year begins at Chinese New Year, so people born in January or early February may belong to the previous sign.
What is the Tiger's personality?
Tigers are known for being brave and confident, generous and protective and inspiring natural leader. Their weak spots: impulsive under pressure; dislikes being told what to do; can take risks too quickly.
Who is the Tiger most compatible with?
The Tiger's best matches are the Horse and Dog (its trine) and the Pig (its secret friend). The most challenging match is the Monkey, the sign directly opposite.
What element is the Tiger?
The Tiger's fixed element is Wood and it is a Yang sign. Each Tiger year also has its own element from the Heavenly Stem, so there are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water Tigers.
What time of day is the Tiger?
The Tiger rules the double hour from 3 am – 5 am. In a BaZi chart, people born in that window have the Tiger 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