The Chinese zodiac · the twelfth of twelve

The Year of the Pig

Generous, easygoing and quietly deep, the Pig brings warmth to the table and honesty to every promise.

亥Hài · Yin Water

1959Earth
1971Metal
1983Water
1995Wood
2007Fire
2019Earth
2031Metal

The next Pig year begins at Lichun in 2031. Each year begins at Lichun, around February 4.

The Pig in character

The Pig is the twelfth and last animal of the cycle, and it carries something of the year's end: a sense that there is enough to go around. Its branch, Hai, is yin water, the kind of water that pools and settles rather than rushes. That shows in you as calm, patience and a deep, quiet sympathy for other people. You notice who has not eaten yet. You keep a spare blanket for the friend who stays late. You would rather believe the best about someone and be wrong now and then than live suspicious. Pleasure matters to you, and you are not embarrassed by it: good food, a long bath, a slow Sunday. Underneath the easy manner is real stamina, because still water runs deep. You tend to be honest to the point of bluntness, loyal once you commit, and slow to anger, though not endlessly so. People relax around you, and that is a gift.

In love

In love, you give generously and without keeping score. You remember how someone takes their coffee, show up with soup when they are sick, and make an ordinary evening feel like an occasion. You need a partner who is honest and kind in return, someone who enjoys simple comforts and does not mistake your gentleness for weakness. Affection said out loud matters to you more than grand gestures. The pitfall is trusting too fast and saying yes to keep the peace. If resentment quietly builds, it can surface all at once. Speaking up early, even about small things, keeps your warmth from being taken for granted.

At work

At work, you are the steady colleague people are glad to have on the team. You finish what you start, share credit easily, and keep the mood humane when deadlines bite. You do well where care and quality matter more than speed or office politics: hospitality, food, healthcare support, teaching, design, crafts, counseling, or any small business that runs on good relationships. You prefer clear, fair arrangements and a pace that leaves room for a real lunch. The pitfall is taking people at their word without checking the details, or carrying others' workload because you dislike conflict. A written agreement and a firm no protect your good nature.

Gifts

GenerosityYou share time, food and attention freely, and you rarely make anyone feel they owe you something in return.
HonestyYou say what you mean and mean what you say, so people know where they stand with you and trust your word.
Staying powerLike deep water, you are patient and hard to exhaust, quietly finishing long projects others abandon halfway through.

Shadows

Too trustingYour good faith can be used by people who do not share it. Checking facts and taking time before big commitments helps.
OverindulgenceA love of comfort can slide into one more dessert, one more episode, one more purchase. Gentle routines keep pleasure a pleasure.
Avoiding conflictYou may swallow complaints until they spill over. Naming small frustrations calmly, as they come up, saves you and others a bigger storm.

The five Pigs

Every twelve years the Pig returns with a different element, so each Pig year comes round again every sixty.

木

The Wood Pig

1935 · 1995

The Wood Pig, born in 1935 or 1995, has a wood stem resting on a water branch, and water feeds wood. That makes you outward-reaching and hopeful, quick to start a community garden, a group chat or a shared dinner. Wood also echoes the Pig's own hidden wood, so growth comes naturally to you. You can overcommit to other people's plans; choosing a few projects to tend well keeps you from spreading too thin.

火

The Fire Pig

1947 · 2007

The Fire Pig, born in 1947 or 2007, mixes a fire stem with a water branch, and the two make steam. You tend to be livelier and more expressive than other Pigs, warm in company, generous with praise and quick to host. Feelings run hot and then cool down fast. Water and fire can pull against each other, so you may swing between big plans and a sudden need for rest. Honoring both is wiser than choosing one.

土

The Earth Pig

1959 · 2019

The Earth Pig, born in 1959 or 2019, has an earth stem over a water branch, like a riverbank giving a stream its shape. You tend to be the most practical Pig: dependable, careful with commitments, happiest with a well-stocked pantry and a home people can count on. Earth contains water, so you may hold feelings in longer than you realize. A trusted friend who asks how you really are does you a great deal of good.

金

The Metal Pig

1911 · 1971 · 2031

The Metal Pig, born in 1911, 1971 or 2031, has a metal stem above a water branch, and metal gives rise to water. That adds backbone to the Pig's softness. You keep your standards high, your word firm and your opinions clear, and you are less easily talked into things than other Pigs. The same firmness can harden into stubbornness when you feel judged. Letting people see the soft center under the polish brings them closer.

水

The Water Pig

1923 · 1983 · 2043

The Water Pig, born in 1923, 1983 or 2043, doubles the theme: a water stem on a water branch. You are the most intuitive and empathetic Pig, quick to read a room and slow to judge it. Friends bring you their worries because you listen without rushing to fix. With so much water, boundaries can blur, and other people's moods may soak into yours. Time alone, a walk, or a closed door after a long week helps you settle.

The Pig in 2026

The Year of the Fire Horse, and how it meets the Pig.

Open ground

Cool Water in a Warm Year

If you were born in a Pig year, you and the Horse share no classical tie, so this is open ground where your own choices carry the most weight. As a water animal you meet a very fiery year, and that gives you a rare role: you are the one who cools the room. Friends may come to you for calm, colleagues for perspective. Enjoy the warmth, the parties, the invitations, but notice when you start running on other people's heat instead of your own rhythm. Keep evenings that restore you, cook at home more often, and let your money habits stay simple and slow.

The year for every animal → How the year meets your whole chart →

The Pig with every animal

Allies and secret friends first, then open ground, then the pairs that rub. Open any pair to read it.

Pig & RabbitAllies

Rabbit and Pig share a harmony trine, and around them life tends to feel easy. Both lead with kindness. Pig gives openly and generously, and Rabbit receives it with grace and gives back in quieter, thoughtful ways: a favorite tea already brewing, a hard day noticed before it is mentioned. As housemates, sisters, or a couple, they make a home that feels soft to walk into, the kind where friends linger after dinner.

Their shared gentleness is also the soft spot. Neither loves conflict, so a real issue, like who keeps covering the grocery bill, can go unspoken for months while resentment quietly builds. Pig's trusting heart can be taken advantage of by others, and Rabbit may sense it but hesitate to say so. What helps is agreeing that honesty is a form of care, and practicing small, kind, direct conversations early.

The Rabbit → Compare two full charts →

Pig & GoatAllies

Goat and Pig belong to the same harmony trine, a natural alliance, and it shows in how easily they settle into each other's company. Both lead with the heart. The Pig gives warmly and without keeping score, and the Goat gives tenderness and creative flair. Picture a long dinner with friends where the Pig keeps refilling plates and the Goat has made the table glow. Each feels cherished by the other without having to ask.

Their softness is also their blind spot. Neither loves conflict, so a real issue, like an overdue bill or a sibling who keeps borrowing money, can sit untouched because nobody wants to spoil the mood. And two generous hearts can both be taken advantage of. What helps is gentle honesty: naming small concerns early and kindly, before they grow. Their alliance is strong enough to hold a hard conversation.

The Goat → Compare two full charts →

Two PigsThe same animalPunishment

Two Pigs together make a house overflowing with warmth. Same animal, same open heart, and a shared delight in generosity, comfort, and good company. There is no scorekeeping here, only easy affection. Picture a long holiday dinner with an always-open door and a pot big enough for any extra guests, both Pigs happiest when everyone around the table is happy.

The risk is that two trusting hearts can both be taken advantage of, and neither wants to be the one to say no. Shared money can drift toward loans that never come back or plans that please others before themselves. Small resentments may also hide behind cheerfulness. What helps is gently naming needs and setting simple boundaries together. Their kindness grows stronger, not weaker, when it protects them too.

Compare two full charts →

Pig & RatOpen ground

Rat and Pig meet on open ground, and both of you carry the water element, so there is an easy flow here. The Pig is generous and sincere, the open heart that holds nothing back. The Rat is attentive and playful, noticing needs before they are spoken. Think of weekend dinners where the Pig fills every plate and the Rat remembers who likes extra sauce. Warmth comes naturally.

The rub is money and trust. The Pig gives freely and the Rat counts carefully, so a generous gift or an impulse purchase can spark a tense conversation. The Pig may also wonder what the strategic Rat is keeping private. Honesty is the medicine. Rat, let the Pig see your thinking, and honor its generosity rather than correcting it. Pig, let the Rat help protect your kindness from people who would take advantage of it.

The Rat → Compare two full charts →

Pig & OxOpen ground

Ox and Pig meet on open ground, and their sincerity is what brings them together. The Pig loves with open hands, generous and affectionate; the Ox loves with steady hands, reliable and true. The Pig softens the Ox's long working days with comfort and laughter, and the Ox gives the trusting Pig someone who will never take that generosity for granted.

Where they rub is pleasure versus prudence. The Pig wants the weekend away and the nice dinner; the Ox wants to check the savings account first. The Pig may feel judged, and the Ox may feel the budget is being ignored. What helps is a shared fund marked for joy, so the treats are planned and guilt-free. With that settled, this pair can feel like a warm hearth on a cold night.

The Ox → Compare two full charts →

Pig & DragonOpen ground

Dragon and Pig meet on open ground, and what often draws them together is generosity. Both give freely: Dragon with grand gestures, Pig with warm, everyday affection. Pig genuinely enjoys Dragon's big personality without feeling threatened by it, and Dragon feels protective of Pig's open heart. Picture a holiday table where Dragon hosts on a lavish scale and Pig makes sure every guest feels welcome and full.

The rub is balance. Pig gives and keeps giving, and Dragon can get used to being admired without always noticing what Pig needs in return. Pig rarely complains, so the imbalance can grow quietly. Money can also slip away, since neither loves saying no to a treat. What helps is Dragon making a habit of asking about Pig's day first, and both setting a simple budget before the next big celebration.

The Dragon → Compare two full charts →

Pig & HorseOpen ground

Horse and Pig meet on open ground, with no classical bond either way, and they tend to find each other easy company. Both are warm, generous, and quick to share a good time. Pig's open heart makes Horse feel welcome without feeling caught, and Horse's zest pulls Pig into experiences it might never try alone. Think of a backyard barbecue Horse planned on an hour's notice, with Pig making sure everyone has a full plate.

The rub is that Pig gives and keeps giving, while Horse can wander off when life gets exciting elsewhere. Pig may feel taken for granted without saying so. Money can slip through both their fingers, too. What helps is Horse noticing and returning Pig's kindness, and Pig speaking up about its needs. A shared savings jar wouldn't hurt either.

The Horse → Compare two full charts →

Pig & RoosterOpen ground

Rooster and Pig share open ground, with no classical bond either way, and they balance each other in useful ways. The Rooster offers structure, reliability, and a keen eye. The Pig offers warmth, generosity, and an easy laugh that loosens the Rooster's shoulders. Picture a family gathering where the Rooster has perfected the seating plan and the timing of the roast, and the Pig makes everyone feel welcome the moment they walk in.

The rub is money and generosity. The Pig gives freely, sometimes too freely, and the Rooster may tally the cost aloud. To the Pig, that can sound cold. To the Rooster, the Pig's openness can look careless. What helps is the Rooster appreciating the heart behind the giving and the Pig valuing the Rooster's care for the future. A shared budget with room for kindness keeps both content.

The Rooster → Compare two full charts →

Pig & DogOpen ground

Dog and Pig meet on open ground, with no classical bond either way, yet they share a sincerity that makes trust come more easily. The Pig gives warmth without keeping score, and the Dog guards what matters with steady loyalty. Picture a cozy shared home where the Pig fills the fridge for friends and the Dog makes sure the door is locked and everyone gets home safely. Each feels the other is genuine.

Where they rub is caution versus openness. The Dog needs time before trusting newcomers, while the Pig welcomes everyone and may lend money to people the Dog has doubts about. The Dog's protectiveness can feel like suspicion to the Pig, and the Pig's openness can feel risky to the Dog. What helps is listening to each other's instincts, with the Dog learning to relax and the Pig agreeing to pause before saying yes.

The Dog → Compare two full charts →

Pig & TigerBreakSecret friends

Tiger and Pig are secret friends, a quiet and binding affinity, and it often feels like recognition from the first conversation. The Pig's open, generous heart cools the Tiger's fire without dimming it, and the Tiger's boldness gives the Pig a fierce protector. Both are sincere to the bone, with no games. Picture a crowded holiday table where the Tiger tells a story too loudly and the Pig, laughing, refills everyone's plate and makes the whole room feel warmer.

The rub is uneven giving. The Pig keeps offering, and the Tiger, busy chasing the next adventure, may not notice when the Pig's cup runs low. Tiger, make your gratitude visible and specific. Pig, ask for what you need. This bond deepens with simple, steady care.

The Tiger → Compare two full charts →

Pig & MonkeyHarm

Monkey and Pig share open ground, with no classical bond either way, which leaves them free to find their own rhythm. The Pig's warmth and generosity give the restless Monkey a soft place to land, and the Monkey's wit keeps the Pig laughing. Picture a shared kitchen on a Saturday, with the Monkey inventing a strange new recipe and the Pig cheerfully eating the experiment and asking for seconds. There is real affection in that ease.

Where they rub is trust and sincerity. The Pig gives openly and takes people at their word, while the Monkey enjoys teasing and clever angles. Even an innocent prank, or a vague promise about paying someone back, can leave the Pig feeling played. What helps is the Monkey choosing honesty over cleverness with this tender heart, and the Pig speaking up instead of quietly absorbing hurt.

The Monkey → Compare two full charts →

Pig & SnakeClash

Snake and Pig sit opposite each other on the wheel, and the Six Clash means their differences are real, but so is the growth they can spark. Pig is open-hearted and gives freely; Snake is private and holds close. Each has what the other lacks. Pig's warmth coaxes Snake out of its shell, and Snake's discernment helps protect Pig's trusting heart from people who would take advantage.

They rub over openness. Pig shares everything and may feel shut out by Snake's silences, while Snake can find Pig's easy warmth a little too public, like when Pig invites half the neighborhood to a dinner Snake hoped would be quiet. What helps is meeting halfway: Snake offers a few more spoken feelings, Pig protects some private time together. Handled kindly, this friction polishes both of them.

The Snake → Compare two full charts →

The Pig beyond the year

Your year animal is one of eight characters. The Pig can sit in the others too.

The Pig’s hour

9 PM to 11 PM, by the Sun

If you were born between 9 PM and 11 PM by the Sun's time at your birth place, the Pig is your secret animal. It suggests a private side that is softer and more trusting than your public face, a part of you that comes alive at home, among a few close people.

Find your secret animal →

The Pig’s month

The Pig month

If you were born from about November 8 to December 6, the Pig is your month animal, the inner animal that shapes how you feel and grow. It lends a nurturing, reflective streak: you may gather people close as the year winds down, and find your strength in quiet, steady care.

Raise your four pillars →

Inside the Pig

Its hidden stems

Inside the Pig's branch sit two hidden stems. The main one is Yang Water, broad and moving like a river, which gives your gentle surface depth, resourcefulness and a wide view of people. The second is Yang Wood, a tall tree reaching upward, which adds hope, kindness and a drive to grow and help others grow. Together they explain why the easygoing Pig turns out to be wiser and more ambitious than it looks.

Weigh your elements →

All twelve animals

Rat

Tiger

Rabbit

Dragon

Snake

Horse

Goat

Monkey

Rooster

Dog

Pig

More Chinese astrology

The BaZi Calculator Your four pillars, cast from the exact moment of your birth.

This Year The Chinese year now running, and what it holds for each animal.

Compatibility Two full charts, read the way a BaZi reader compares two people.

Clashing With the Year? How the year meets every pillar of your chart.

Your Secret Animal The animal of your birth hour, read by the Sun.

The Five Elements Your five elements weighed, hidden stems included.

the deeper lore

The Chinese Astrology Library

The Four Pillars (BaZi)

the whole system

The Heavenly Stems

the sky layer

III

The Earthly Branches

the ground layer

The Day Master

the centre

Yin & Yang

the polarity

Lichun — the Solar New Year

the year's gate

Ready to raise your own pillars? Cast My BaZi Chart

The Year of the Pig, answered

Which years are Pig years?

Recent Pig years are 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007 and 2019, and the next is 2031. In BaZi, each year begins at Lichun, when the Sun reaches 315 degrees, around February 4, not on January 1 or at the lunar new year. So if you were born in January or early February, check the exact date: you may belong to the previous year's animal. A birthday in January 2020, for example, still falls in the 2019 Pig year.

What is the Pig's personality like?

The Pig tends to be warm, generous, honest and easygoing, with more depth and stamina than its relaxed manner suggests. Its branch is yin water, which shows up as patience, empathy and a talent for making people comfortable. Pigs usually enjoy good food, home comforts and loyal friendships. On the shadow side, they can be too trusting, avoid conflict, or indulge a little too much. These are tendencies, not fixed rules.

Who is the Pig most compatible with?

The Pig's closest allies are the Rabbit and the Goat, its partners in a three harmony group, who tend to share its kindness and appreciation for a gentle pace. The Tiger is the Pig's secret friend in a six harmony pairing, a bond with quiet mutual support. The same Tiger link is also counted as a break, so the friendship works best with honest talk. Any pairing can thrive with care.

Which animal clashes with the Pig?

The Snake sits opposite the Pig in the cycle, so the two form a clash. The easygoing, open Pig and the private, strategic Snake can misread each other's pace and motives. A clash does not doom a relationship; it often means stimulation and friction together, and it asks for patience and plain speaking. The Pig also has a harm relationship with the Monkey, which calls for extra care around trust.

What are the five types of Pig?

Each Pig year carries one of five elements from its Heavenly Stem, repeating every 60 years. Metal Pigs (1911, 1971, 2031) are principled and firm. Water Pigs (1923, 1983, 2043) are intuitive and empathetic. Wood Pigs (1935, 1995) are hopeful and sociable. Fire Pigs (1947, 2007) are lively and expressive. Earth Pigs (1959, 2019) are practical and dependable. All share the Pig's warmth, colored differently.

Is my Chinese zodiac animal the whole story?

No. Your year animal is one of eight characters in a full BaZi chart, built from the year, month, day and hour of your birth. Your month animal, your day stem and your hour animal, read by the Sun's time at your birth place, can soften, strengthen or contrast with the Pig. That is why two Pigs born in the same year can feel quite different. A full chart gives the richer picture.

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