Year of the Tiger: Personality, Years, and Compatibility

沉浸 TeamAugust 10, 20264 min read

The Year of the Tiger is the third year in the Chinese zodiac's 12-year cycle. Recent Tiger years are 2022, 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, and the next one starts in 2034. In Chinese the tiger is 虎 (hǔ), and someone born in a Tiger year says 我属虎 (wǒ shǔ hǔ), "I'm a Tiger."

Tigers are born leaders: brave, confident, and allergic to being told what to do. They act on conviction, protect their people fiercely, and bring drama wherever they go. Caution isn't their strong suit; neither is waiting.

Year of the Tiger years and dates

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

1962: Water Tiger (February 5, 1962 to January 24, 1963)
1974: Wood Tiger (January 23, 1974 to February 10, 1975)
1986: Fire Tiger (February 9, 1986 to January 28, 1987)
1998: Earth Tiger (January 28, 1998 to February 15, 1999)
2010: Metal Tiger (February 14, 2010 to February 2, 2011)
2022: Water Tiger (February 1, 2022 to January 21, 2023)

2034 will be the next Tiger year after that.

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 Ox; check the start date of your year.

The Tiger personality

Strengths:

Courageous and decisive
Natural authority
Loyal protector
Magnetic confidence

Weaknesses:

Impulsive and headstrong
Hates taking orders
Can burn out or overreach

Tigers thrive as founders, leaders, athletes, and advocates, in any role with real stakes and real freedom.

Not every Tiger 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 Tiger year carries a different element, which shades the core personality:

Water Tiger (1962, 2022): adds adaptability, intuition, and quiet persuasion.
Wood Tiger (1974): adds curiosity, generosity, and a builder's patience.
Fire Tiger (1986): adds charisma, boldness, and a taste for the spotlight.
Earth Tiger (1998): adds patience, reliability, and a practical, grounded streak.
Metal Tiger (2010): adds discipline, high standards, and real persistence.

Tiger 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 Horse and Dog, the Tiger's trine partners, plus its secret friend the Pig.
Most challenging: the Monkey, directly opposite the Tiger 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: 1, 3, 4
Lucky colors: blue, grey, orange

In a Tiger 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 Tiger 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 Tiger finished third. It powered across the river on pure strength and still tells everyone it should have won.

How to say it in Chinese

虎 (hǔ): tiger
虎年 (hǔ nián): Year of the Tiger
生肖 (shēngxiào): Chinese zodiac sign
我属虎 (wǒ shǔ hǔ): "I'm a Tiger"

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

Year of the Tiger FAQ

When is the next Year of the Tiger?

The next Tiger year is 2034, beginning at Chinese New Year that year.

What years are Year of the Tiger?

1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022, and next 2034. Remember that each zodiac year starts at Chinese New Year, in late January or early-to-mid February.

Who should a Tiger marry?

By tradition, the Horse, Dog, or Pig. The Monkey is the classic "difficult" pairing. Real compatibility, of course, is written by people rather than calendars.