Year of the Pig (Boar)
猪 Zhū
The Pig is the twelfth and last animal of the Chinese zodiac and the sign of generosity. In Chinese tradition, people born in a Pig year are seen as warm, easygoing and sincere, happy to enjoy life and quick to share what they have. English sites also call it the Boar.
- generous
- easygoing
- sincere
- warm
- patient
- trusting
Are You a Pig?
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.
Pig at a Glance
- Order
- 12th of 12
- Chinese
- 猪 zhū, branch 亥 hài
- Yin or Yang
- Yin
- Own element
- Water
- Best matches
- Rabbit, Goat, Tiger
- Clashes with
- Snake
- Recent years
- 1995, 2007, 2019
- Next Pig year
- 2031, from Jan 23, 2031
Pig Zodiac Years
A Pig 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 Dog.
- 1911Metal PigJan 30, 1911 to Feb 17, 1912
- 1923Water PigFeb 16, 1923 to Feb 4, 1924
- 1935Wood PigFeb 4, 1935 to Jan 23, 1936
- 1947 Chinese zodiacFire PigJan 22, 1947 to Feb 9, 1948
- 1959 Chinese zodiacEarth PigFeb 8, 1959 to Jan 27, 1960
- 1971 Chinese zodiacMetal PigJan 27, 1971 to Feb 14, 1972
- 1983 Chinese zodiacWater PigFeb 13, 1983 to Feb 1, 1984
- 1995 Chinese zodiacWood PigJan 31, 1995 to Feb 18, 1996
- 2007 Chinese zodiacFire PigFeb 18, 2007 to Feb 6, 2008
- 2019 Chinese zodiacEarth PigFeb 5, 2019 to Jan 24, 2020
- 2031Metal PigJan 23, 2031 to Feb 10, 2032Next
Pig Zodiac Personality and Traits
In Chinese tradition the Pig is generous, easygoing and sincere. Pigs enjoy good food and good company, take people at their word and give freely. The same trust can leave them open to being taken advantage of.
Strengths
- Generosity. Shares what it has without keeping score.
- Sincerity. Honest and says what it means.
- Warmth. Easy to be around.
- Patience. Takes setbacks calmly.
- Diligence. Works hard at what it believes in.
Weaknesses
- Naivety. Trusts too readily.
- Indulgence. Finds it hard to say no to a treat.
- Avoidance. Dislikes conflict and hard conversations.
- Stubbornness. Digs in when pushed.
- Overspending. Generosity can outrun the budget.
The Pig Man and the Pig Woman
These are sketches from tradition, not rules.
The Pig Man
The Pig man is pictured as honest, generous and easy to like. He enjoys the good things in life and works hard for the people he loves. His lesson is to check before he trusts.
The Pig Woman
The Pig woman is described as warm, sincere and sociable. She is loyal to friends and family and slow to hold a grudge. She does best with a partner who is honest and appreciates her generosity.
Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water Pigs
The last digit of your birth year sets your element, which is different from the Pig’s own element (always Water). 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 Pig
Years ending in 4 or 51935, 1995
Wood makes the Pig more creative and sociable. Said to be generous and open-minded, and the most likely to make new friends.
Fire Pig
Years ending in 6 or 71947, 2007
Fire adds heat and courage. The Fire Pig is described as more outspoken and adventurous than other Pigs, and more likely to take a risk.
Earth Pig
Years ending in 8 or 91959, 2019
Earth steadies the Pig. Practical and patient, the Earth Pig is pictured as the most careful with money and the most dependable of the five.
Metal Pig
Years ending in 0 or 11911, 1971, 2031
Metal sharpens the Pig. Determined and disciplined, the Metal Pig is said to be the most ambitious of the five, with a stubborn streak.
Water Pig
Years ending in 2 or 31923, 1983
Water is the Pig’s own element. The Water Pig is described as the most intuitive and adaptable of the five, and the best at sensing how others feel.
Pig Compatibility: Best and Worst Matches
Tradition gives the Pig three best matches: the Rabbit and Goat, its trine group, and the Tiger, its Secret Friend. The hardest are the Snake, directly opposite on the zodiac wheel, and the Monkey, a harm pair. These come from fixed rules, not opinion.
Best Matches
- RabbitSame trine group 三合
- GoatSame trine group 三合Goat and Pig compatibility
- TigerSecret Friend 六合
Rabbit and Goat
Same trine group. Gentle, kind and easygoing, the Rabbit and Goat share the Pig’s love of a comfortable home and its dislike of conflict.
Tiger
The Pig’s Secret Friend, a traditional natural ally. The Tiger’s boldness protects the trusting Pig, and the Pig’s warmth softens the Tiger.
Snake
Opposite the Pig on the wheel, a clash. The Snake is private and guarded and the Pig is open and trusting, so the two often misread each other.
Monkey
A harm pair. The Monkey’s teasing and tricks can wound the trusting Pig, and each can feel the other is not on its side.
The Pig in 2026 and 2027
For the full forecast, see the Pig horoscope for 2027 and the 2027 Year of the Goat.
2026, the Fire Horse Year
The Horse has no formal link to the Pig in the traditional rules, so tradition reads 2026 as neutral. It rewards steady habits and a little caution with money.
2027, the Fire Goat Year
The Goat is one of the Pig’s trine partners, so tradition reads 2027 as a supportive year. It is a good time to lean on friends and family and to start something you have been putting off.
The Pig in Chinese Culture: Meaning and Symbols
The Pig took twelfth and last place in the Great Race, the legend that set the order of the 12 animals. In a popular version it stopped to eat and then fell asleep, and woke too late to catch up.
A Symbol of Wealth
In Chinese culture a plump pig stands for plenty and good fortune. Pig-shaped piggy banks and pig images are common gifts, and the Pig year is often welcomed as a year of abundance.
A Pig Under the Roof
The Chinese character for home, 家 (jiā), is a pig (豕) under a roof (宀). It reflects how important the pig was to the household in farming life.
Not a Symbol of Greed
Western readers may think of the pig as greedy or dirty. In Chinese culture it stands for fortune, honesty and a contented life.
Night and the Tenth Month
The Pig’s earthly branch, 亥 (hài), marks the tenth month of the traditional solar calendar, which starts around November 7, and the hours from 9 to 11 at night.
Pig Career, Money and Health
Traditional advice for the Pig is the same in every area: keep the warmth, and check before you trust.
Career
Pigs do best in work that rewards warmth and steady effort: hospitality, food, healthcare, teaching, the arts and service roles. Cutthroat, politics-heavy workplaces are harder.
Money
Tradition describes the Pig as a good earner and a generous giver. A useful habit is to set aside savings first and spend the rest, so generosity stays within budget.
Health
Pigs are described as sturdy but inclined to indulge. Tradition links the Pig’s Water element with the kidneys and with rest. That is cultural symbolism, not medical advice. Regular exercise and moderate meals help most.
Pig Zodiac FAQ
What years are the Year of the Pig?
Pig years include 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019 and 2031. The next one starts on Jan 23, 2031. Each Pig year begins on Lunar New Year, so check the exact dates if you were born in January or February.
I was born in January 2019. Am I a Pig?
No. Lunar New Year 2019 fell on February 5, so births before that date belong to the Dog year that began in 2018. From February 5, 2019 on, you are a Pig.
Is the zodiac animal a Pig or a Boar?
The Chinese character 猪 (zhū) means pig, and the zodiac animal is the domestic pig. Many English sites say Boar, which is why Chinese zodiac boar and Chinese zodiac pig are the same sign. In Japan the animal is a wild boar.
Why is the Pig last in the zodiac?
In the legend of the Great Race the Pig got hungry on the way, stopped to eat and then fell asleep. It woke up late and reached the bank in twelfth place.
What is the Pig's enemy sign?
The Snake. It sits opposite the Pig on the zodiac wheel, a pairing tradition calls a clash. The Monkey is the other hard match, a harm pair. Both point to friction in style, not a ban on friendship or marriage.
Who should a Pig marry?
Tradition favors the Tiger, Rabbit and Goat. The Rabbit and Goat share the Pig's trine group, and the Tiger is its Secret Friend. The Snake and Monkey are harder. Real couples depend more on the two people than on their signs.