Year of the Pig猪年 zhū nián · the twelfth animal of the Chinese zodiac
Quick facts
- Position
- 12 of 12
- Zodiac name
- 猪 zhū - Pig
- “Year of the Pig”
- 猪年 zhū nián
- Earthly Branch
- 亥 hài
- Hours of the day
- 9 pm – 11 pm
- Yin or yang
- Yin
- Next Pig year
- 2031 (23 January 2031 - 10 February 2032)
Year of the Pig years and dates
Each zodiac year starts at Chinese New Year and ends the day before the next one. If you were born in January or February, check the dates below or use the Chinese Zodiac Calculator.
| Year | Starts | Ends | Element |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1911 | 30 Jan 1911 | 17 Feb 1912 | Metal |
| 1923 | 16 Feb 1923 | 4 Feb 1924 | Water |
| 1935 | 4 Feb 1935 | 23 Jan 1936 | Wood |
| 1947 | 22 Jan 1947 | 9 Feb 1948 | Fire |
| 1959 | 8 Feb 1959 | 27 Jan 1960 | Earth |
| 1971 | 27 Jan 1971 | 14 Feb 1972 | Metal |
| 1983 | 13 Feb 1983 | 1 Feb 1984 | Water |
| 1995 | 31 Jan 1995 | 18 Feb 1996 | Wood |
| 2007 | 18 Feb 2007 | 6 Feb 2008 | Fire |
| 2019 | 5 Feb 2019 | 24 Jan 2020 | Earth |
| 2031 | 23 Jan 2031 | 10 Feb 2032 | Metal |
| 2043 | 10 Feb 2043 | 29 Jan 2044 | Water |
How to say Year of the Pig in Chinese
To give your own sign, say 我属 (wǒ shǔ, “I belong to”) plus the animal. To ask someone else, say 你属什么？ (nǐ shǔ shénme?).
Pig personality: what the sign stands for
People born in a Year of the Pig are traditionally described as generous, easy-going and sincere, enjoying good food and good company.
Said to be
- generous
- easy-going
- sincere
- warm
Said to watch out for
- too trusting
- fond of comfort
These are traditional beliefs, shared for fun and for cultural background. They are not predictions.
The Pig in the Great Race
The Pig was the last to finish the Great Race. It got hungry on the way, stopped for a meal and then fell asleep. It woke up just in time to take the twelfth and final place.
The Pig in Chinese culture
A fat pig meant a family had plenty to eat, so the Pig stands for wealth and a comfortable life. The character 家 (jiā, “home”) is a pig, 豕, under a roof, 宀.
The best-known pig in Chinese culture is 猪八戒 (Zhū Bājiè), the greedy but likeable companion of the Monkey King in Journey to the West.
Chinese idioms with 猪
人怕出名猪怕壮
rén pà chū míng zhū pà zhuàng
"people fear fame as pigs fear getting fat"
Fame brings trouble, just as a fat pig is the first to be chosen.
猪八戒照镜子
Zhū Bājiè zhào jìngzi
"Zhu Bajie looks in the mirror"
The first half of a two-part saying; the second half is 里外不是人 (lǐ wài bú shì rén), “not human inside or out,” meaning to be blamed by both sides.
Pig compatibility in tradition
Traditional matchmaking groups the twelve animals by their Earthly Branches. These pairings are folk tradition, not science. To check any two signs, use the Chinese Zodiac Compatibility chart.
Your own zodiac year is called 本命年 (běnmìngnián). Tradition says it can bring bad luck, so people wear something red for protection.
The other zodiac animals
Find your animal with the Chinese Zodiac CalculatorFrequently asked questions
What years are the Year of the Pig?
Recent and coming Years of the Pig are 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031, 2043. Each one starts at Chinese New Year, so January and early February birthdays usually belong to the year before.
When is the next Year of the Pig?
The next Year of the Pig runs from 23 January 2031 to 10 February 2032.
How do you say Year of the Pig in Chinese?
It is 猪年 (zhū nián). To say you were born in that year, say 我属猪 (wǒ shǔ zhū).
Is it the Year of the Pig or the Year of the Boar?
In China it is the domestic pig, 猪 (zhū). In Japan the twelfth animal is the wild boar, so the same year is called the Year of the Boar there.