Year of the Tiger
虎 Hǔ
The Tiger is the third animal of the Chinese zodiac and the sign of courage. In Chinese tradition, people born in a Tiger year are seen as bold, confident and protective, quick to take the lead and slow to back down.
- brave
- confident
- protective
- energetic
- direct
- restless
Are You a Tiger?
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.
Tiger at a Glance
- Order
- 3rd of 12
- Chinese
- 虎 hǔ, branch 寅 yín
- Yin or Yang
- Yang
- Own element
- Wood
- Best matches
- Horse, Dog, Pig
- Clashes with
- Monkey
- Recent years
- 1998, 2010, 2022
- Next Tiger year
- 2034, from Feb 19, 2034
Tiger Zodiac Years
A Tiger 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 Ox.
- 1902Water TigerFeb 8, 1902 to Jan 28, 1903
- 1914Wood TigerJan 26, 1914 to Feb 13, 1915
- 1926Fire TigerFeb 13, 1926 to Feb 1, 1927
- 1938Earth TigerJan 31, 1938 to Feb 18, 1939
- 1950 Chinese zodiacMetal TigerFeb 17, 1950 to Feb 5, 1951
- 1962 Chinese zodiacWater TigerFeb 5, 1962 to Jan 24, 1963
- 1974 Chinese zodiacWood TigerJan 23, 1974 to Feb 10, 1975
- 1986 Chinese zodiacFire TigerFeb 9, 1986 to Jan 28, 1987
- 1998 Chinese zodiacEarth TigerJan 28, 1998 to Feb 15, 1999
- 2010 Chinese zodiacMetal TigerFeb 14, 2010 to Feb 2, 2011
- 2022 Chinese zodiacWater TigerFeb 1, 2022 to Jan 21, 2023
- 2034Wood TigerFeb 19, 2034 to Feb 7, 2035Next
Tiger Zodiac Personality and Traits
In Chinese tradition the Tiger is brave, confident and full of energy. Tigers act fast and stand up for others, but the same drive can make them impatient and stubborn.
Strengths
- Courage. Takes on problems others avoid.
- Confidence. Trusts its own judgment under pressure.
- Protection. Looks after friends and family.
- Energy. Brings momentum and likes a clear goal.
- Honesty. Says what it thinks.
Weaknesses
- Impatience. Rushes decisions that needed time.
- Stubbornness. Hard to talk out of a decision.
- A quick temper. Flares fast and passes, but can leave damage.
- Restlessness. Drops commitments once the excitement fades.
- Overconfidence. Takes big risks, especially with money.
The Tiger Man and the Tiger Woman
These are sketches from tradition, not rules.
The Tiger Man
The Tiger man is pictured as a natural leader. He makes the first move, protects the people around him and wants respect. Patience is the skill he most needs to learn.
The Tiger Woman
The Tiger woman is described as independent, ambitious and direct. She is loyal to the people she loves and fierce when they are threatened, and she can push ahead before others are ready.
Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water Tigers
The last digit of your birth year sets your element, which is different from the Tiger’s own element (always Wood). 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 Tiger
Years ending in 4 or 51914, 1974, 2034
Wood is the Tiger’s own element. Often described as the most balanced of the five: friendly, creative and willing to share the credit.
Fire Tiger
Years ending in 6 or 71926, 1986
Fire doubles the Tiger’s energy. Said to be the most passionate and restless type, bold, drawn to adventure, and quick to burn out.
Earth Tiger
Years ending in 8 or 91938, 1998
Earth slows the Tiger down in a useful way. Practical and steady, willing to think before leaping, and aiming its drive at goals it can reach.
Metal Tiger
Years ending in 0 or 11950, 2010
Metal (also called Gold) sharpens the Tiger. Intense, competitive and hard to talk out of anything, it sees a goal through, sometimes at the cost of flexibility.
Water Tiger
Years ending in 2 or 31902, 1962, 2022
Water softens the Tiger’s edges. Said to be the calmest and most open-minded of the five, a good listener with strong intuition.
Tiger Compatibility: Best and Worst Matches
Tradition gives the Tiger three best matches: the Horse and Dog, its trine group, and the Pig, its Secret Friend. The hardest are the Monkey, directly opposite on the zodiac wheel, and the Snake, a harm pair. These come from fixed rules, not opinion.
Best Matches
- HorseSame trine group 三合Tiger and Horse compatibility
- DogSame trine group 三合
- PigSecret Friend 六合
Hardest Matches
- MonkeyOpposite sign (clash) 六冲Tiger and Monkey compatibility
- SnakeHarm pair 六害Tiger and Snake compatibility
Horse and Dog
Same trine group. The Horse matches the Tiger’s energy and love of freedom, and the Dog adds loyalty and calms its temper.
Pig
The Tiger’s Secret Friend, a traditional natural ally. Its easygoing warmth lets the Tiger lead without a power struggle.
Monkey
Opposite the Tiger on the wheel, a clash. Both are clever and competitive and like to be in control, so expect more arguments.
Snake
A harm pair. The Tiger acts fast and openly, while the Snake waits and keeps its plans private. Trust takes work.
The Tiger in 2026 and 2027
For the full forecast, see the Tiger horoscope for 2027 and the 2027 Year of the Goat.
2026, the Fire Horse Year
The Horse is one of the Tiger’s trine partners, so tradition reads 2026 as supportive: a good time to start projects and ask for help.
2027, the Fire Goat Year
The Goat has no special link to the Tiger, so 2027 is usually read as steady and workable, a year to build on what 2026 started.
The Tiger in Chinese Culture: Meaning and Symbols
In the legend of the Great Race, the Jade Emperor invited the animals to race across a river, and the finishing order became the order of the zodiac. The Tiger was a strong swimmer and expected to win, but the current pushed it downstream. It reached the far bank behind the Rat and the Ox and took third place.
King of the Beasts
Folk tradition says the stripes on a tiger’s forehead form the character 王 (wáng), meaning king.
Tiger-Head Shoes and Hats
Children wore them to stay safe and brave. Tiger images on doors and gates kept evil away.
The First Month of Spring
The Tiger’s earthly branch, 寅 (yín), marks the first month of spring, which starts around February 4, and the hours from 3 to 5 in the morning.
Not the White Tiger
The White Tiger is one of the Four Symbols of Chinese astronomy and guards the west and autumn. The zodiac Tiger belongs to early spring.
Tiger Career, Money and Health
Traditional advice for the Tiger is the same in every area: put the energy to work, and pause before big decisions.
Career
Tigers do best in work that rewards initiative and lets them lead: business, management, law, sales, sports, emergency services. Strict routines with little say are harder.
Money
Tradition favors the Tiger in business and in any work with room to take a chance. Wait a week before any large purchase, and keep some savings out of reach of a good idea.
Health
Tigers are described as strong but prone to run until they drop. Tradition links the Tiger’s Wood element with the liver and with stress that has nowhere to go. That is cultural symbolism, not medical advice. Regular exercise and real rest help most.
Tiger Zodiac FAQ
What years are the Year of the Tiger?
Tiger years include 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022 and 2034. The next one starts on Feb 19, 2034. Each Tiger year begins on Lunar New Year, so check the exact dates if you were born in January or February.
I was born in January 1998. Am I a Tiger?
Probably not. Lunar New Year 1998 fell on January 28, so births from January 1 to 27 belong to the Ox year that began in 1997. From January 28 on, you are a Tiger.
What is the Tiger's enemy sign?
The Monkey. It sits opposite the Tiger on the zodiac wheel, a pairing tradition calls a clash. It points to friction in pace and style, not a ban on friendship or marriage.
Who should a Tiger marry?
Tradition favors the Horse, Dog and Pig. The Horse and Dog share the Tiger's trine group, and the Pig is its Secret Friend. The Monkey and Snake are harder. Real couples depend more on the two people than on their signs.
Is 2026 a good year for the Tiger?
Traditionally, yes. The Horse, 2026's animal, is a trine partner of the Tiger, a supportive pairing. It is usually read as a year to start things and lean on allies.
Is the Tiger a lucky sign?
No sign is lucky or unlucky on its own. Chinese culture admires the Tiger for strength and protection, which is why tiger images guard doorways and children's clothing.