Year of the Pig: Personality, Years, and Compatibility

沉浸 TeamAugust 19, 20264 min read

The Year of the Pig is the twelfth year in the Chinese zodiac's 12-year cycle. Recent Pig years are 2031, 2019, 2007, 1995, 1983, and the next one starts in 2031. In Chinese the pig is 猪 (zhū), and someone born in a Pig year says 我属猪 (wǒ shǔ zhū), "I'm a Pig."

Pigs are the zodiac's good souls: generous, easygoing, and genuinely kind. They assume the best in people, share whatever they have, and enjoy life's comforts without guilt. Their trust gets tested; their warmth never runs out.

Year of the Pig years and dates

Each zodiac year starts at Chinese New Year, not January 1, so the exact dates matter for January and February birthdays:

1971: Metal Pig (January 27, 1971 to February 14, 1972)
1983: Water Pig (February 13, 1983 to February 1, 1984)
1995: Wood Pig (January 31, 1995 to February 18, 1996)
2007: Fire Pig (February 18, 2007 to February 6, 2008)
2019: Earth Pig (February 5, 2019 to January 24, 2020)
2031: Metal Pig (January 23, 2031 to February 10, 2032)

Click your birth year above for that year's full profile. Born in early January or February? You may belong to the previous animal, the Year of the Dog; check the start date of your year.

The Pig personality

Strengths:

Generous and sincere
Easygoing and warm
Diligent when it counts
Great company

Weaknesses:

Too trusting
Indulgent with comfort
Avoids hard conversations

Pigs flourish in hospitality, medicine, charity work, and creative fields with heart.

Not every Pig is the same: the five elements

The zodiac runs on a 60-year cycle: 12 animals times five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water). Each Pig year carries a different element, which shades the core personality:

Metal Pig (1971, 2031): adds discipline, high standards, and real persistence.
Water Pig (1983): adds adaptability, intuition, and quiet persuasion.
Wood Pig (1995): adds curiosity, generosity, and a builder's patience.
Fire Pig (2007): adds charisma, boldness, and a taste for the spotlight.
Earth Pig (2019): adds patience, reliability, and a practical, grounded streak.

Pig compatibility

Traditional matchmaking groups the animals into trines (three signs with a shared temperament) and gives each sign a secret friend and a clash:

Best matches: the Rabbit and Goat, the Pig's trine partners, plus its secret friend the Tiger.
Most challenging: the Snake, directly opposite the Pig on the zodiac wheel.

It's folk wisdom, not destiny, but it still shapes wedding dates, business partnerships, and a lot of good-natured family teasing across the Chinese-speaking world.

Lucky numbers and colors

Lucky numbers: 2, 5, 8
Lucky colors: yellow, grey, brown, gold

In a Pig person's own zodiac year (本命年 běnmìngnián), tradition calls for wearing red, especially red given to you by someone else, to ward off bad luck.

The Pig in the Great Race

The order of the 12 animals comes from the legend of the Great Race, in which the Jade Emperor invited all the animals to cross a river. The Pig finished twelfth. It got hungry mid-race, stopped to eat and nap, and still finished with a smile.

How to say it in Chinese

猪 (zhū): pig
猪年 (zhū nián): Year of the Pig
生肖 (shēngxiào): Chinese zodiac sign
我属猪 (wǒ shǔ zhū): "I'm a Pig"

Want to go beyond the zodiac? Create a free Chenjin account to hear words like 猪 and 生肖 pronounced by native-quality audio, save them as flashcards, and start reading real Chinese stories at your level.

Year of the Pig FAQ

When is the next Year of the Pig?

The next Pig year is 2031, starting on January 23, 2031 and running to February 10, 2032.

What years are Year of the Pig?

1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031. Remember that each zodiac year starts at Chinese New Year, in late January or early-to-mid February.

Who should a Pig marry?

By tradition, the Rabbit, Goat, or Tiger. The Snake is the classic "difficult" pairing. Real compatibility, of course, is written by people rather than calendars.