Year of the Pig: Zodiac Sign, Personality, Compatibility (2023)
The twelfth Chinese zodiac animal sign is the Pig. People of this zodiac sign are generous and laid back, perhaps even slovenly, but their appearance belies a sharp intellect and incredible energy when the situation requires. Pigs can be tough as nails when they want to be, which means they’re equal parts tenacious and stubborn. They’re well-liked for their easy optimism and daily good cheer.
In Chinese astrology, your zodiac sign influences every aspect of your horoscope and life, from love to work and even your ultimate potential. For example, if it’s your birth year (Ben Ming Nian)—meaning the year of the Pig again, your Chinese horoscope indicates that you risk offending Tai Sui, the Guardian God of the year, and you might suffer a bout of bad luck. In addition, each zodiac is suited for certain careers, romantic matches, and more. Read on to find out more about the Pig.
Chinese Zodiac Years for Pig
The year of the Pig comes around every 12-year cycle of the Chinese calendar, but the Chinese zodiacs use the lunar calendar, which is a month or two off from the Gregorian calendar. Consequently, if your birthday falls within the lunar months of January or February (around the time of the Chinese New Year), your zodiac sign could differ. Check out our zodiac calculator below to see if the Chinese zodiac Pig is your sign.
Find your Chinese zodiac
Curious, resourceful, and quick-witted, those born under Rat are natural charmers ready for any opportunity. Your dynamic personality...
Read moreChart of Pig Years, Dates, and Elements
Pig Year | Start of the Lunar Year | End of the Lunar Year | Element |
|---|---|---|---|
1923 | February 16, 1923 | February 4, 1924 | Water |
1935 | February 4, 1935 | January 23, 1936 | Wood |
1947 | January 22, 1947 | February 9, 1948 | Fire |
1959 | February 8, 1959 | January 27, 1960 | Earth |
1971 | January 27, 1971 | February 24, 1972 | Metal |
1983 | February 13, 1983 | February 1, 1984 | Water |
1995 | January 31, 1995 | February 18, 1996 | Wood |
2007 | February 18, 2007 | February 6, 2008 | Fire |
2019 | February 5, 2019 | January 24, 2020 | Earth |
2031 | January 23, 2031 | February 10, 2032 | Metal |
Pig Zodiac: Personality and Traits
At their core, Pigs are cool-headed and logical thinkers. They’re intuitive and can sniff out a situation in no time at all. They may like to play the fool at times, keeping their interactions friendly and breezy, but they can surprise everyone in highly demanding situations with their sudden agility and decisiveness.
The Pig is generous, easygoing, and tenacious, concealing their intellect and agility unless the situation requires it and playing the fool until then.
As a friend and a romantic partner, the Pig is laidback, authentic to the point of being naïve, and very generous. Not much ruffles this zodiac sign’s feathers, and as such, they’re often the bedrock of their circle, family, and relationship. Their popularity seems easily won, but in fact, it springs from the Pig’s ability to give without demanding anything in return. In terms of yin yang, the Pig is yin, similar to those born in the year of the Rabbit or the Rooster.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that Pig people don’t have their own needs. They can, at times, be temperamental and require their partner to coax them with gentle caresses and sweet words. Pigs can also be a bit childish at times, but only in front of people who have made it past their jester-like exterior to see the sensitive nature of this often-lonely soul.
Male Pigs
Male Pigs are compassionate and gentle creatures, although they’re often more cool-headed and mature than their female counterparts. Male Pigs crave passionate romances that will result in traditional matrimony, after which they’ll thrive in the safety and warmth of their little family. Male Pigs, however, sometimes struggle to express their feelings, leading to misunderstandings with their soulmate.
Female Pigs
Female Pigs are sweet and sensitive. They can appear rather fragile at times, which makes others instinctively want to protect them. In actuality, these ladies are strong and resilient women who know exactly what they want. If they choose to enter matrimony—which they most likely will—Female Pigs will prove to be everything their partner could have wished for.
Pig and the Five Elements
The Chinese believe that the elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth constitute everything under the sky. The Pig is a water zodiac. In addition, Pigs born in different years have different personalities according to the element of that year. For example, a Wood Pig born in 1995 is different from a Water Pig born in 1983.
Element | Year | Personality |
|---|---|---|
Metal | 1971, 1931 | Metal Pigs are magnanimous and compassionate. They’re extraordinarily good friends to their inner circle, but they need to also remember to take care of themselves. They can be prone to overthinking, but not in their finances. If they can make a budget and stick to it, Metal Pigs will certainly accumulate wealth quickly. |
Water | 1923, 1983
| Water Pigs are responsible but domineering. They may decide on something and single-mindedly pursue that goal even if others advise them otherwise. Water Pigs are the doers of the bunch—and the thriftiest. Just don’t panic if emergencies occur. You’ll have put away enough to deal with anything that may come your way. |
Wood | 1935, 1995
| Wood Pigs are down-to-earth and often considered quite adorable. Their cuddly appearance is not misleading, per se, as they’re fun and easy to be around, but they’re also action and goal-oriented. They create wealth easily but spend it just as easily, too. Remember, being generous shouldn’t mean paying for the whole world, Wood Pig. |
Fire | 1947, 2007 | Fire Pigs are a bit more dependent than the rest, and they prefer teamwork over working individually. At the same time, they prefer to develop a unique skill set that’ll make them invaluable in many different settings. Their ambition will usually play out by taking their team or company to the top, where Fire Pigs will have plenty of people to celebrate their wins with. |
Earth | 1959, 2019 | Earth Pigs are social butterflies. They always have a big collection of friends, both old and new, and seem to be on good terms with everyone. Earth Pigs are excellent money managers. They may not earn as quickly as the other Pigs, but they’re the steadiest and most reliable with their investments. As such, by the time they’re in their middle ages, Earth Pigs will be very well off and will remain so for the rest of their lives. |
Lucky Things for Pigs
Being a water zodiac, the Pig thrives with all things associated with the water element. The earth element, however, overcomes water and won’t bring the Pig good luck. Here’s a short list of lucky and unlucky things for the Pig, but there are many more.
Lucky Things
Lucky numbers: 1, 6
Lucky colors: Gold, White
Lucky directions: Northeast, Southwest
Lucky flowers: Sunflower, Oak, Hydrangea
Things to Avoid
Unlucky numbers: 0, 5
Unlucky colors: Yellow, Brown
Unlucky directions: Southeast
Other unlucky items and things to be avoided: All-nighters, careers in logistics and transportation
Compatibility: Best and Worst Matches for Pig
Since the zodiac signs are all unique with different personality attributes, some sign pairings will have better love compatibility than others, while other pairings can’t sustain a long-term relationship.
The Pig is steadfast, loyal, and affectionate. While they may not be able to put their feelings into words, the Pig’s actions should speak very loudly of their tenderness toward their partner.
The best romantic matches for the Pig are the Rabbit, the Goat, and the Tiger. The Pig’s loyalty is appreciated by these discerning zodiac signs, who repay the favor by lavishing the care and attention that the Pig craves in return.
The Snake and the Monkey can’t appreciate the Pig’s unique attributes and may consider the Pig too lazy and slovenly to be a match. It’s very likely their loss. But thankfully, the Pig’s not short on potential love interests at all.
Most Compatible: Rabbit, Goat, Tiger
The best zodiac matches for the Pig are the Rabbit, the Goat, and the Tiger. Once the Pig feels ready to commit, they’re in for the long haul, by which we mean the rest of their lives! Luckily, the Rabbit, the Goat, and Tiger won’t betray the Pig’s trust or affection.
The Rabbit is elegant and warm, while the Pig is generous and understanding. The Rabbit’s oversensitivity finds acceptance in the Pig’s embrace, and in return, the Rabbit creates a haven for the Pig, where the comfort, tenderness, and companionship that the Pig has always wanted are plentiful and always ready to be enjoyed.
The Pig finds the Tiger intellectually stimulating, and the Tiger is pleasantly surprised by the ambition underneath the Pig’s easygoing demeanor. This is a pairing that sees both partners thrive professionally, as they genuinely admire and encourage each other’s progress at work, which strengthens their affection towards each other at home.
The Pig tends to bungle their declarations of love, only to be entirely stunned that their feelings are perfectly expressed by their Goat partner. This complementary pair finds each other very comfortable and fun to be around. They bring out the bantering and humorous sides in their partner, filling their home with laughter and harmony.
Least Compatible: Snake, Monkey
The Pig’s best qualities are inside their often-unkempt appearance, so it’s natural that some zodiac signs can’t see past that façade to appreciate these attributes that actually make much more difference to the success of a relationship than looks alone. The Snake and the Monkey are guilty of this misjudgment, but of course, everyone’s searching for something different in love.
The Snake’s posh exterior is intimidating to the Pig, keeping these two apart from the start. If somehow, they’re thrown together in love, this pairing will still have a hard time getting off the ground because the Pig just isn’t up to the Snake’s exacting and—let’s be honest—mostly superficial standards. That’s just as well because the Snake is stressing the easygoing Pig out, and no one needs that, least of all the Pig.
The Pig finds the Monkey annoying to be around. The Monkey’s constant and jittery movement, the rapid-fire conversations about nothing, and the need to draw attention to themselves are all a bit much for the laidback Pig. The two won’t see eye-to-eye when it comes to lifestyle, with the Pig wanting simple comfort and the Monkey’s innate need to perform and show off.
Best Jobs and Careers for Pig
The Pig naturally gravitates towards skill-based careers, where they’ll shine. This could mean anything from the culinary arts to veterinarian, engineering, and academic research. Pigs also love to be in nature and work with their hands, so becoming artisans could appeal to them. Lastly, investment and trading that rely on logic and calculations would see the Pig thrive.
Pigs are not naturally competitive or combative. They prefer to work steadily to improve a single skill until they master it, which will remain their meal ticket for the rest of their life. As such, they’ll like less hectic careers like potters and bakers or chefs and veterinarians.
On the other hand, Pigs desire to know above all else. This inborn curiosity could take the Pig far should they decide to gain knowledge in a single field. They could be excellent academics, medical researchers, or engineers. While the Pig is a very patient personality, their sharp intellect will suffer if they have to conduct menial tasks day in and day out.
Health and Lifestyle Advice
The Pig needs an enriching personal life, so work-life balance is not negotiable. In their spare time, the Pig might be found at museums, watching plays and musicals, or taking a hike in nature. Although Pigs have a tendency to overindulge in food, this active and culturally rich lifestyle should help them stay in good health both physically and mentally.
Pigs are honest and open themselves, so they could be gullible in their younger years. This may mean heavy investment losses if the Pig doesn’t learn to be more discerning with their money. In fact, the Pig is best served by putting money in the bank or something extremely low-risk, like bonds. Watching the numbers grow will become one of the most satisfying pastimes in the Pig’s life.
Pig and the 12 Zodiac Animals (Origin Story)
The Pig may not be a natural first choice when it comes to animals that should be included among the zodiacs. But aside from the Pig’s importance in Chinese culture, where they are considered a symbol of wealth and good fortune, they are also intelligent and accommodating animals well deserving of this honor. The story of how the Pig became the last zodiac sign is a popular one in Chinese legend.
Apparently, the Jade Emperor organized a race across a heavenly river to decide which animals would have the ultimate satisfaction of becoming a zodiac sign. The Pig swam leisurely, relishing the cool water on that fine day instead of breaking its back trying to triumph over the other animals.
When it finally crossed the finish line, the Pig was told it was in last place. The Pig laughed and said that that was just fine because it enjoyed every minute of the race and had worked up a ferocious appetite for lunch!
Famous People Born in the Year of the Pig
Pigs are quirky and popular. They’re not the homecoming king and queen types but rather the nerdy kids who possess unique magnetism. Here’s a list of the most famous Pigs in the world.
Stephen King
Dua Lipa
Elon Musk
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Timothee Chalamet
Hilary Clinton
Emily Blunt
Woody Allen
Sandra Oh
Mila Kunis
Julie Andrews