Year of the Monkey
猴 Hóu
The Monkey is the ninth animal of the Chinese zodiac and the sign of wit. In Chinese tradition, people born in a Monkey year are seen as clever, curious and playful, quick to solve a problem and just as quick to get bored.
- clever
- curious
- playful
- quick-witted
- sociable
- restless
Are You a Monkey?
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.
Monkey at a Glance
- Order
- 9th of 12
- Chinese
- 猴 hóu, branch 申 shēn
- Yin or Yang
- Yang
- Own element
- Metal
- Best matches
- Rat, Dragon, Snake
- Clashes with
- Tiger
- Recent years
- 1992, 2004, 2016
- Next Monkey year
- 2028, from Jan 26, 2028
Monkey Zodiac Years
A Monkey year comes every 12 years and begins on Lunar New Year, between January 21 and February 20. Born in January or early February? Compare your birthday with the start date. If it came first, you belong to the sign before: the Goat.
- 1908Earth MonkeyFeb 2, 1908 to Jan 21, 1909
- 1920Metal MonkeyFeb 20, 1920 to Feb 7, 1921
- 1932Water MonkeyFeb 6, 1932 to Jan 25, 1933
- 1944Wood MonkeyJan 25, 1944 to Feb 12, 1945
- 1956 Chinese zodiacFire MonkeyFeb 12, 1956 to Jan 30, 1957
- 1968 Chinese zodiacEarth MonkeyJan 30, 1968 to Feb 16, 1969
- 1980 Chinese zodiacMetal MonkeyFeb 16, 1980 to Feb 4, 1981
- 1992 Chinese zodiacWater MonkeyFeb 4, 1992 to Jan 22, 1993
- 2004 Chinese zodiacWood MonkeyJan 22, 2004 to Feb 8, 2005
- 2016 Chinese zodiacFire MonkeyFeb 8, 2016 to Jan 27, 2017
- 2028 Chinese zodiacEarth MonkeyJan 26, 2028 to Feb 12, 2029Next
Monkey Zodiac Personality and Traits
In Chinese tradition the Monkey is clever, curious and playful. Monkeys learn fast, love a puzzle and make friends easily. The same restless mind can drift from one interest to the next and slip into mischief.
Strengths
- Wit. Quick with a joke and a solution.
- Curiosity. Wants to know how everything works.
- Adaptability. Finds a way around obstacles.
- Sociability. Easy company and quick to make friends.
- Inventiveness. Comes up with ideas others miss.
Weaknesses
- Restlessness. Bores quickly with routine.
- Mischief. Can play tricks that go too far.
- Scattered focus. Starts more than it finishes.
- Overconfidence. Trusts its own cleverness too much.
- Impatience. Little time for slow processes.
The Monkey Man and the Monkey Woman
These are sketches from tradition, not rules.
The Monkey Man
The Monkey man is pictured as quick, funny and endlessly curious. He is good at talking himself into and out of things and likes a challenge. His lesson is to follow a plan through to the end.
The Monkey Woman
The Monkey woman is described as lively, clever and sociable. She is a natural problem-solver and a good friend, and she keeps life interesting. She does best with a partner who can keep up with her and does not mind a little teasing.
Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water Monkeys
The last digit of your birth year sets your element, which is different from the Monkey’s own element (always Metal). Born in January or early February? If your birthday came before Lunar New Year, use the year before. The cycle repeats every 60 years.
Wood Monkey
Years ending in 4 or 51944, 2004
Wood makes the Monkey more cooperative and creative. Said to be generous with ideas and willing to work in a team.
Fire Monkey
Years ending in 6 or 71956, 2016
Fire adds heat and flair. The Fire Monkey is described as the boldest and most energetic of the five, and the one most drawn to adventure.
Earth Monkey
Years ending in 8 or 91908, 1968, 2028
Earth steadies the Monkey. Practical and patient, the Earth Monkey is pictured as the most dependable of the five, and the most likely to finish what it starts.
Metal Monkey
Years ending in 0 or 11920, 1980
Metal is the Monkey’s own element. The Metal Monkey is said to be the sharpest and most ambitious of the five, with a mind that rarely rests.
Water Monkey
Years ending in 2 or 31932, 1992
Water softens the Monkey. Perceptive and adaptable, the Water Monkey is described as a better listener and a more flexible thinker.
Monkey Compatibility: Best and Worst Matches
Tradition gives the Monkey three best matches: the Rat and Dragon, its trine group, and the Snake, its Secret Friend. The hardest are the Tiger, directly opposite on the zodiac wheel, and the Pig, a harm pair. These come from fixed rules, not opinion.
Best Matches
- RatSame trine group 三合
- DragonSame trine group 三合
- SnakeSecret Friend 六合Snake and Monkey compatibility
Hardest Matches
- TigerOpposite sign (clash) 六冲Tiger and Monkey compatibility
- PigHarm pair 六害
Rat and Dragon
Same trine group. The Rat’s cleverness and the Dragon’s big ideas match the Monkey’s quick, inventive pace.
Snake
The Monkey’s Secret Friend, a traditional natural ally. Both are quick-witted, and each respects the other’s cleverness.
Tiger
Opposite the Monkey on the wheel, a clash. Both are clever and competitive and like to be in control, so expect more arguments.
Pig
A harm pair. The Monkey’s teasing and trickery can wound the trusting Pig, and the Pig’s slower pace can frustrate the Monkey.
The Monkey in 2026 and 2027
For the full forecast, see the Monkey horoscope for 2027 and the 2027 Year of the Goat.
2026, the Fire Horse Year
The Horse has no formal link to the Monkey in the traditional rules, so tradition reads 2026 as neutral. It rewards quick thinking and a flexible plan.
2027, the Fire Goat Year
The Goat has no special link to the Monkey either. Tradition reads 2027 as a steady year, good for finishing the projects that 2026 left open.
The Monkey in Chinese Culture: Meaning and Symbols
The Monkey took ninth place in the Great Race, the legend that set the order of the 12 animals. In a popular version the Monkey, Goat and Rooster found a raft and worked together to cross the river.
The Monkey King
The best-known monkey in Chinese culture is Sun Wukong (孙悟空), the Monkey King of the novel Journey to the West. He is clever, rebellious and nearly impossible to stop.
A Monkey on a Horse
A monkey on a horse is a classic lucky image. The phrase 马上封侯 (mǎshàng fēnghóu), “be made a marquis at once,” puns on the words for horse, monkey (猴, hóu) and marquis (侯, hóu), and wishes someone a quick promotion.
Wit and Quick Thinking
In folk tradition the monkey stands for cleverness and agility. It is a popular figure in stories and in opera, where it is often played with acrobatics.
Late Afternoon and the Seventh Month
The Monkey’s earthly branch, 申 (shēn), marks the seventh month of the traditional solar calendar, which starts around August 7, and the hours from 3 to 5 in the afternoon.
Monkey Career, Money and Health
Traditional advice for the Monkey is the same in every area: keep the curiosity, and finish what you start.
Career
Monkeys do best in work with variety and problem-solving: technology, sales, media, teaching, trading and entrepreneurship. Repetitive tasks with little room to think are harder.
Money
Tradition describes the Monkey as a quick study with money and a quick spender. A useful habit is to choose a few simple long-term investments and leave them alone.
Health
Monkeys are described as lively but prone to nervous energy. Tradition links the Monkey’s Metal element with the lungs and with holding things in. That is cultural symbolism, not medical advice. Regular exercise and good sleep help most.
Monkey Zodiac FAQ
What years are the Year of the Monkey?
Monkey years include 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 and 2028. The next one starts on Jan 26, 2028. Each Monkey year begins on Lunar New Year, so check the exact dates if you were born in January or February.
I was born in January 2016. Am I a Monkey?
No. Lunar New Year 2016 fell on February 8, so births before that date belong to the Goat year that began in 2015. From February 8, 2016 on, you are a Monkey.
Is the Chinese zodiac Monkey the Monkey King?
No, but they are linked in popular culture. The Monkey King, Sun Wukong (孙悟空), is the hero of the classic novel Journey to the West, and his wit and mischief are often seen as the Monkey sign's style.
What is the Monkey's enemy sign?
The Tiger. It sits opposite the Monkey on the zodiac wheel, a pairing tradition calls a clash. The Pig is the other hard match, a harm pair. Both point to friction in style, not a ban on friendship or marriage.
Who should a Monkey marry?
Tradition favors the Snake, Rat and Dragon. The Rat and Dragon share the Monkey's trine group, and the Snake is its Secret Friend. The Tiger and Pig are harder. Real couples depend more on the two people than on their signs.
Is 2026 a good year for the Monkey?
It is usually read as a neutral year. The Horse has no formal link to the Monkey in the traditional rules, so 2026 is neither helped nor hindered. It rewards quick thinking and a flexible plan.