Chinese zodiac · 寅 · yín
Year of the Tiger
Quick answer
Recent Tiger years: 1998, 2010, and 2022; the next begins in 2034. Each one starts at Lunar New Year, between January 21 and February 20, so a birthday early in the year may belong to the year before. In the classical tables the best matches for the Tiger are Pig (six harmony) and Horse and Dog (three harmony), and its clash is Monkey.
Earthly branch
寅 · yín
Fixed element
Wood
Yin or yang
Yang
Double hour (時辰)
03:00–05:00
Personality
The Tiger brings courage and momentum. In Chinese tradition it is the king of the beasts, with the character 王, “king”, said to be written in the stripes on its forehead. Tiger people are often described as bold, generous and magnetic, drawn to causes larger than themselves.
寅 opens spring in the solar calendar: the first solar month of the year is a 寅 month, beginning at Lichun. That rising wood energy shows in the Tiger’s appetite for fresh starts and its readiness to protect the people it loves.
Strengths
- Courageous and decisive
- Generous with energy
- Protective of others
- Inspires a team
Growing edges
Tigers move fast, and sometimes alone. They grow by pausing to bring others along, and by resting before they burn out.
Love and friendship
Tigers love with intensity and honesty. They tend to want a partner who is also a companion in adventure, and who meets their passion without trying to tame it.
Compatibility
Chinese astrology pairs the twelve branches in a few classical ways. They describe tendencies between birth years, never a verdict on two real people: a full chart, and the people themselves, say much more.
Six harmony (六合)
Branches that combine as a pair. Traditionally the easiest, most complementary bond.
Animals four years apart that together form a frame of fire. Traditionally read as kindred spirits and natural allies.
Clash (六沖)
The animal six years away, opposite on the circle. Traditionally read as different rhythms: friction for some pairs, a useful balance for others.
Harm (六害)
A subtler mismatch in the classical tables, often read as small misunderstandings that ask for patience.
Tiger years, 1900–2099
Each year runs from Lunar New Year to the eve of the next. Its element comes from the year’s heavenly stem, so the same element and animal return every sixty years.
| Year | Dates | Stem and branch |
|---|---|---|
| 1902 | Feb 8, 1902 – Jan 28, 1903Water · Yang | 壬寅rén yín |
| 1914 | Jan 26, 1914 – Feb 13, 1915Wood · Yang | 甲寅jiǎ yín |
| 1926 | Feb 13, 1926 – Feb 1, 1927Fire · Yang | 丙寅bǐng yín |
| 1938 | Jan 31, 1938 – Feb 18, 1939Earth · Yang | 戊寅wù yín |
| 1950 | Feb 17, 1950 – Feb 5, 1951Metal · Yang | 庚寅gēng yín |
| 1962 | Feb 5, 1962 – Jan 24, 1963Water · Yang | 壬寅rén yín |
| 1974 | Jan 23, 1974 – Feb 10, 1975Wood · Yang | 甲寅jiǎ yín |
| 1986 | Feb 9, 1986 – Jan 28, 1987Fire · Yang | 丙寅bǐng yín |
| 1998 | Jan 28, 1998 – Feb 15, 1999Earth · Yang | 戊寅wù yín |
| 2010 | Feb 14, 2010 – Feb 2, 2011Metal · Yang | 庚寅gēng yín |
| 2022 | Feb 1, 2022 – Jan 21, 2023Water · Yang | 壬寅rén yín |
| 2034 | Feb 19, 2034 – Feb 7, 2035Wood · Yang | 甲寅jiǎ yín |
| 2046 | Feb 6, 2046 – Jan 25, 2047Fire · Yang | 丙寅bǐng yín |
| 2058 | Jan 24, 2058 – Feb 11, 2059Earth · Yang | 戊寅wù yín |
| 2070 | Feb 11, 2070 – Jan 30, 2071Metal · Yang | 庚寅gēng yín |
| 2082 | Jan 29, 2082 – Feb 16, 2083Water · Yang | 壬寅rén yín |
| 2094 | Feb 15, 2094 – Feb 4, 2095Wood · Yang | 甲寅jiǎ yín |
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