2010 Chinese Zodiac: Year of the Metal Tiger
庚寅 · 虎 Hǔ
2010 is the Year of the Metal Tiger. The Chinese year ran from Feb 14, 2010 to Feb 2, 2011, so anyone born in that span is a Metal Tiger. Born in January or early February? Lunar New Year fell on Feb 14, 2010, and earlier births belong to the Earth Ox year.
- Tiger
- Metal
- Yang
Born in 2010?
Enter your birth date to check, down to the exact Lunar New Year.
Month and day are optional. Add them if you were born in January or February. See January and February Chinese zodiac.
2010 at a Glance
- Animal
- Tiger 虎 hǔ
- Element
- Metal
- Yin or Yang
- Yang
- Year name
- 庚寅 · sound element 松柏木
- Begins
- Sunday, Feb 14, 2010
- Ends
- Feb 2, 2011
- Age in 2026
- 15 or 16
- Next Tiger year
- 2022
2010 Metal Tiger and Valentine’s Day
In 2010, Lunar New Year and Valentine’s Day landed on the same day, Feb 14, 2010. A baby born the day before, Feb 13, 2010, is an Earth Ox; from Feb 14, 2010 on, the year belongs to the Metal Tiger.
In Chinese tradition the year name 庚寅 pairs Metal with the Tiger. 2010 Tigers turn 16 in 2026, a Horse year, and the Horse is one of the Tiger’s trine partners.
Born in January or Early February 2010?
The Chinese year does not start on January 1. Lunar New Year 2010 was on Sunday, Feb 14, 2010, so births before that date belong to the year before.
| Born | Sign | Year name |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 to Feb 13, 2010 | Earth Ox | 己丑 |
| Feb 14, 2010 to Feb 2, 2011 | Metal Tiger | 庚寅 |
So someone born on Feb 13, 2010 is an Earth Ox, and someone born on Feb 14, 2010 is a Metal Tiger. Dates are in China Standard Time.
What Is a Metal Tiger?
A Metal Tiger combines the Tiger with the element of the birth year. 2010 ends in 0, which gives Metal. The element repeats every 60 years, so other Metal Tiger years include 1950.
How Old Is a 2010 Tiger, and When Is the Next Tiger Year?
Someone born in 2010 turns 16 in 2026 and 17 in 2027. The last Tiger year was 1998, and the next is 2022. Your own sign year, called 本命年 (běnmìngnián), comes every 12 years. These are the Tiger years a 2010 Tiger lives through:
- 2010Metal TigerBornThis page
- 2022 Chinese zodiacWater TigerTurns 12
- 2034Wood TigerTurns 24
2010 Tiger Compatibility: Best and Hardest Matches
Compatibility follows the animal, not the element. Tradition favors the signs in the Tiger's trine group and its Secret Friend, and is cautious about the opposite sign and the harm pair.
The 2010 Tiger in 2026 and 2027
How the traditional rules link the Tiger to the next two years, and how old a 2010 Tiger will be.
2026, the Fire Horse Year: Supported
Turns 16. Link to the Horse: Trine partner (三合).
2027, the Fire Goat Year: Steady
Turns 17. No formal link to the Goat in the traditional rules.
Nearby Years
The years just before and after 2010, and the other years of the decade.
- 2008 Chinese zodiacEarth RatFeb 7, 2008 to Jan 25, 2009
- 2009 Chinese zodiacEarth OxJan 26, 2009 to Feb 13, 2010
- 2010Metal TigerFeb 14, 2010 to Feb 2, 2011
- 2011 Chinese zodiacMetal RabbitFeb 3, 2011 to Jan 22, 2012
- 2012 Chinese zodiacWater DragonJan 23, 2012 to Feb 9, 2013
Want every year on one sheet? Download the Chinese zodiac years chart PDF (A4, 1900 to 2035, with Lunar New Year dates).
20102011 Chinese zodiac2012 Chinese zodiac2013 Chinese zodiac2014 Chinese zodiac2015 Chinese zodiac2016 Chinese zodiac2017 Chinese zodiac2018 Chinese zodiac2019 Chinese zodiacAll Chinese zodiac years
2010 Chinese Zodiac FAQ
What Chinese zodiac is 2010?
2010 is the Year of the Metal Tiger. The Chinese year ran from Feb 14, 2010 to Feb 2, 2011.
What element is the 2010 Chinese zodiac?
Metal. A year's element follows its last digit: 0 gives Metal. The Tiger's own fixed element is Wood, which is a different thing.
What Chinese zodiac is January 2010?
Lunar New Year 2010 fell on Sunday, Feb 14, 2010. Born from January 1 to Feb 13, 2010, you are an Earth Ox. From Feb 14, 2010, you are a Metal Tiger.
How old is someone born in 2010?
In 2026 they turn 16, or are 15 before their birthday. In 2027 they turn 17. Chinese tradition often counts age differently, adding one year at birth.
When is the next Tiger year after 2010?
2022, the Year of the Water Tiger, begins on Feb 1, 2022.