1981 Chinese Zodiac: Year of the Metal Rooster

1981 is the Year of the Metal Rooster — a Yin Metal year. The animal sign is the Rooster, the tenth of the 12-animal cycle.

1981 carries the Metal element (Yin Metal). Element is set by the year's heavenly stem and cycles every 10 years, so the full Metal Rooster combination returns only once every 60 years.

Those born in 1981, the Year of the Rooster, are traditionally described as observant, hardworking, and courageous. With the Metal element added, determination, structure, and resilience are emphasised.

The Rooster is traditionally most compatible with the Ox, Snake, Dragon.

Almost — but the Chinese zodiac year starts at Chinese New Year (late January or early February), not January 1. So someone born in early 1981, before that year's Chinese New Year, is actually a Monkey (the 1980 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.