Today is Nov 1, 2026, the Year of the Fire Horse

Chinese Year Animals
金

Metal Element in the Chinese Zodiac

金 jīn · Discipline, precision and resolve

Metal, also called Gold, stands for autumn, order and resolve. People of the Metal element are described as disciplined, exacting and loyal to their principles, and they are said to be hard to bend and quick to judge. A year carries the Metal element when it ends in 0 or 1, so the latest Metal years were 2021, 2030 and 2031.

  • Metal
  • Autumn
  • West

Metal at a Glance

Chinese
金 jīn
Years end in
0 or 1
Color
White
Direction
West
Season
Autumn
Heavenly stems
庚 Gēng, 辛 Xīn
Feeds
Water
Controls
Wood

The Twelve Metal Signs

Each of the 12 animals has a Metal year. Pick one for its personality, years and Lunar New Year dates.

Metal Years, 1900 to 2035

Every year ending in 0 or 1, with its animal. The Chinese year begins on Lunar New Year, so the year runs from the date shown into the next calendar year.

  1. 1900Metal RatFrom Jan 31, 1900
  2. 1901Metal OxFrom Feb 19, 1901
  3. 1910Metal DogFrom Feb 10, 1910
  4. 1911Metal PigFrom Jan 30, 1911
  5. 1920Metal MonkeyFrom Feb 20, 1920
  6. 1921Metal RoosterFrom Feb 8, 1921
  7. 1930Metal HorseFrom Jan 30, 1930
  8. 1931Metal GoatFrom Feb 17, 1931
  9. 1940Metal DragonFrom Feb 8, 1940
  10. 1941Metal SnakeFrom Jan 27, 1941
  11. 1950 Chinese zodiacMetal TigerFrom Feb 17, 1950
  12. 1951 Chinese zodiacMetal RabbitFrom Feb 6, 1951
  13. 1960 Chinese zodiacMetal RatFrom Jan 28, 1960
  14. 1961 Chinese zodiacMetal OxFrom Feb 15, 1961
  15. 1970 Chinese zodiacMetal DogFrom Feb 6, 1970
  16. 1971 Chinese zodiacMetal PigFrom Jan 27, 1971
  17. 1980 Chinese zodiacMetal MonkeyFrom Feb 16, 1980
  18. 1981 Chinese zodiacMetal RoosterFrom Feb 5, 1981
  19. 1990 Chinese zodiacMetal HorseFrom Jan 27, 1990
  20. 1991 Chinese zodiacMetal GoatFrom Feb 15, 1991
  21. 2000 Chinese zodiacMetal DragonFrom Feb 5, 2000
  22. 2001 Chinese zodiacMetal SnakeFrom Jan 24, 2001
  23. 2010 Chinese zodiacMetal TigerFrom Feb 14, 2010
  24. 2011 Chinese zodiacMetal RabbitFrom Feb 3, 2011
  25. 2020 Chinese zodiacMetal RatFrom Jan 25, 2020
  26. 2021 Chinese zodiacMetal OxFrom Feb 12, 2021
  27. 2030Metal DogFrom Feb 3, 2030
  28. 2031Metal PigFrom Jan 23, 2031

Every Chinese zodiac year with its dates

Metal Years and Metal Animals Are Not the Same

Two different things share the name. The year element follows the last digit of the birth year, so any animal can be a Metal animal: a Metal Tiger, a Metal Dragon, a Metal Pig. The animal's own element never changes. the Monkey and the Rooster are always Metal, whatever year they are born.

When the two match, as in the Metal Monkey and the Metal Rooster, tradition says the Metal nature is doubled.

Traits of the Metal Element

Strengths

  • Focused
  • Determined
  • Organized
  • Principled

Challenges

  • Rigid
  • Blunt
  • Slow to forgive

These are traditional descriptions of the element, and every sign adds its own character.

How Metal Relates to the Other Elements

  • Earth feeds MetalIn the generating cycle, Earth supports Metal.
  • Metal feeds WaterMetal in turn supports Water.
  • Metal controls WoodIn the controlling cycle, Metal holds Wood in check.
  • Fire controls MetalFire is the element that keeps Metal in balance.

The Five Elements

Metal Element FAQ

What years are Metal years in the Chinese zodiac?

Years that end in 0 or 1. Recent Metal years include 2020, 2021, 2030 and 2031. Each Chinese year begins on Lunar New Year, so a birth in January or early February may belong to the year before.

What animals are Metal signs?

Every animal has Metal years. They are the Metal Rat, Metal Ox, Metal Tiger and so on through the Metal Pig, and each comes round every 60 years. The animals whose own, fixed element is Metal are the Monkey and Rooster.

What is the difference between a Metal year and a Metal animal?

The element of a year follows its last digit, so any animal can be a Metal animal in the right year. The animal's own element never changes: the Monkey and the Rooster are always Metal. They are two separate things.

What does Metal mean in Chinese astrology?

Metal, also called Gold, stands for autumn, order and resolve. Its color is white, its direction is west and its season is autumn.

What element feeds and controls Metal?

Earth feeds Metal, and Metal feeds Water. Fire controls Metal, and Metal controls Wood.