1971 Chinese Zodiac: Year of the Metal Pig

1971 is the Year of the Metal Pig — a Yin Metal year. The animal sign is the Pig, the twelfth of the 12-animal cycle.

1971 carries the Metal element (Yin Metal). Element is set by the year's heavenly stem and cycles every 10 years, so the full Metal Pig combination returns only once every 60 years.

Those born in 1971, the Year of the Pig, are traditionally described as compassionate, generous, and easy-going. With the Metal element added, determination, structure, and resilience are emphasised.

The Pig is traditionally most compatible with the Rabbit, Goat, Tiger.

Almost — but the Chinese zodiac year starts at Chinese New Year (late January or early February), not January 1. So someone born in early 1971, before that year's Chinese New Year, is actually a Dog (the 1970 sign). If your birthday is in late January or early February, enter your full date of birth in the Age Calculator to confirm your exact sign.