Born in 1971: the Pig
A Yin Metal Pig 🐖
Pigs are warm, tolerant, and genuinely kind. They work hard without complaint and enjoy sharing good fortune with others. As a Metal-element year, 1971 adds a determined, disciplined and self-reliant streak to the usual Pig character.
The 1971 lunar year ran from January 27, 1971 to February 15, 1972. If you were born on or after January 27, 1971 you are a Pig; if you were born earlier in 1971, you belong to the previous year's sign, the Dog.
What the Metal element adds
Metal is the element of autumn, structure and resolve. A Metal year sharpens focus and independence: a Metal animal knows what it wants and pursues it directly, sometimes at the cost of flexibility.
The full 60-year cycle pairs each of the 12 animals with each of the 5 elements, so a Metal Pig year comes around only once every 60 years — the last one before 1971 was 1911, and the next is 2031. People born in it are said to combine generous and easy-going with the element's determined nature. Its Yin/Yang polarity is fixed as Yin for every Pig year. See the Metal element and the full Metal Pig profile.
1971 at a glance
| Animal | 🐖 Pig (猪) |
|---|---|
| Element | Metal |
| Polarity | Yin |
| Best match | Tiger |
| Hardest match | Snake |
| Lucky numbers | 2, 5, 8 |
| Lucky colors | yellow, gray, brown, gold |
Pig compatibility
In the traditional chart, a 1971 Pig gets on best with the Tiger (the "secret friend" pairing), and also with Rabbit and Goat. The hardest pairing is the Snake, six years apart in the cycle. See the full Pig compatibility table.
Your zodiac years
The Pig returns every 12 years, so someone born in 1971 is back in their own zodiac year in 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019 and so on. Tradition calls this your běnmìngnián — despite being "your" year, it is thought to clash with Tài Suì (the God of Age) and to carry a higher chance of setbacks, so many people wear red through it for protection.
Other Pig years
1935 1947 1959 1983 1995 2007 2019 2031 2043
Full Pig personality profile → Pig compatibility with every sign →
Know your exact birth date? Use the calculator for your full combination →
Frequently asked questions
What Chinese zodiac sign is 1971?
1971 is the year of the Pig (Metal Pig, Yin polarity). Anyone born on or after January 27, 1971 is a Pig; a birthday earlier in 1971 belongs to the previous sign, the Dog.
What element is the 1971 zodiac year?
1971 is a Metal-element year. Metal is the element of autumn, structure and resolve. A Metal year sharpens focus and independence: a Metal animal knows what it wants and pursues it directly, sometimes at the cost of flexibility.
Who is a 1971 Pig most compatible with?
Best matches are the Tiger (the "secret friend"), plus the Rabbit and Goat. The hardest match is the Snake.
Is 1971 a lucky year to be born in?
Chinese tradition does not rank whole years as lucky or unlucky to be born in — every animal has strengths and weaknesses. The one combination widely treated with caution is the Fire Horse, and 1971 is not a Fire Horse year.