Year of the Pig: Personality, Compatibility and Elements

You are a Pig if you were born in a Pig year, most recently 1983, 1995, 2007 or 2019. The year changes at Lunar New Year, not January 1, so the 2019 Pig year ran from February 5, 2019 to January 24, 2020. Pigs are known as warm, generous and sincere people who know how to enjoy life and share it.

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Pig personality

The Pig is the twelfth and final sign of the Chinese zodiac, and there is something fitting about that: Pigs have a gift for gathering people together at the end of a long day. In Chinese astrology the Pig is a yin Water sign, easygoing on the surface and emotionally deep underneath.

Good company

Pigs are the host who insists you stay for dessert, the coworker who remembers birthdays, the friend who forgives quickly and means it. They tend to see the best in people and assume good intentions until proven otherwise. At work, they are cooperative, diligent once committed and rarely interested in office politics. They would rather do good work and go home to something they enjoy.

Enjoyment matters to Pigs. Good food, comfortable spaces, music, a long weekend: they understand that pleasure is not a reward you earn but part of a well-lived life.

Watch-outs

That trusting nature can leave Pigs open to being taken advantage of, and their dislike of conflict may mean they say yes when they mean no. Under stress, some Pigs retreat into comfort, putting off decisions or overindulging rather than facing a problem directly.

• Strengths: generous, sincere, tolerant, hardworking, fun to be around
• Blind spots: naivety, avoiding conflict, difficulty setting limits

A Pig who learns to protect their own boundaries keeps all of that warmth, and spends it on people who deserve it.

Love and compatibility

Pigs fall in love wholeheartedly and tend to stay that way. Chinese astrology places the Rabbit and the Goat in the Pig's harmony trine, and names the Tiger as the Pig's secret friend.

A Rabbit shares the Pig's gentleness and love of a peaceful home, so this pairing often feels effortless, two people who would both rather cook dinner together than go out and argue about where. The Goat is creative, tender and appreciative of comfort, and with a Pig it forms one of the coziest matches in the zodiac. The Tiger brings something different: bold, protective energy. The Tiger shields the Pig's soft heart, and the Pig's warmth gives the restless Tiger a reason to slow down.

The most challenging match is traditionally the Snake, the Pig's clash sign. Snakes are strategic and private, while Pigs are open and trusting, and each may struggle to understand how the other operates. The Monkey is the Pig's harm sign; the Monkey's clever, restless style can leave a sincere Pig feeling outmaneuvered. These are tendencies, not verdicts, and plenty of these couples make it work with clear communication.

Work and career

Pigs work well in settings that feel humane. They are dependable, patient with detail once a task has their attention, and much happier in collaborative teams than in cutthroat ones. Many Pigs care more about whether work feels meaningful and pleasant than about titles.

Roles that often fit the Pig temperament include hospitality and food, customer care, healthcare and caregiving, teaching, the arts and entertainment, interior design, retail, charity work and any field built on making others comfortable. Their sincerity also makes them trusted in client-facing roles.

The main career lesson for a Pig is usually negotiation. Advocating for their own pay, workload and credit does not come naturally, but practicing it can make sure their generosity is matched by fair recognition.

The five types of Pig

Earth Pig (2019, 1959)

Earth makes the Pig steady and responsible. Earth Pigs are traditionally described as practical, family-minded and patient, with a strong sense of duty to the people they love. They often build quietly secure lives. The 2019 Earth Pig year ran from February 5, 2019 to January 24, 2020; 1959 began February 8.

Fire Pig (2007, 1947)

Fire adds courage and enthusiasm. Fire Pigs are said to be energetic, adventurous and openly affectionate, more willing than other Pigs to take a risk or lead a group. Their generosity can be grand. The 2007 Fire Pig year began late, on February 18, 2007, and ended February 6, 2008.

Wood Pig (1995, 1935)

Wood makes the Pig sociable and compassionate. Wood Pigs are traditionally seen as kind, cooperative and good at bringing people together, often drawn to community or creative projects. They tend to make friends easily and keep them. The 1995 Wood Pig year ran from January 31, 1995 to February 18, 1996.

Water Pig (1983, 2043)

Water is the Pig's own fixed element, so Water Pigs are considered the purest expression of the sign: intuitive, empathetic and emotionally perceptive. They often read people well and value harmony above almost everything. Note that the 1983 year began on February 13, 1983, so early-1983 births belong to the Dog.

Metal Pig (1971, 2031)

Metal gives the Pig more backbone. Metal Pigs are traditionally described as determined, outgoing and confident, with stronger opinions and firmer boundaries than most Pigs. They pursue goals with real persistence. The 1971 Metal Pig year ran from January 27, 1971 to February 14, 1972; the next begins January 23, 2031.

Years of the Pig

Each year starts on Lunar New Year and ends the day before the next one. Born in January or early February? Check the start date, or use the zodiac calculator.

Pig in 2027

Same harmony trine as the Goat: a supportive year. Read the full 2027 Fire Goat forecast for the Pig.

Other signs

← Dog · Rat →

鼠Rat1996, 2008, 2020牛Ox1997, 2009, 2021虎Tiger1998, 2010, 2022兔Rabbit1999, 2011, 2023龍Dragon2000, 2012, 2024蛇Snake2001, 2013, 2025馬Horse2002, 2014, 2026羊Goat2003, 2015, 2027猴Monkey2004, 2016, 2028雞Rooster2005, 2017, 2029狗Dog2006, 2018, 2030豬Pig2007, 2019, 2031