Born in 1980: the Monkey
A Yang Metal Monkey 🐒
Monkeys are fast learners and natural problem-solvers with a sharp sense of humor. They improvise well and rarely stay stuck. As a Metal-element year, 1980 adds a determined, disciplined and self-reliant streak to the usual Monkey character.
The 1980 lunar year ran from February 16, 1980 to February 5, 1981. If you were born on or after February 16, 1980 you are a Monkey; if you were born earlier in 1980, you belong to the previous year's sign, the Goat.
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 Monkey year comes around only once every 60 years — the last one before 1980 was 1920, and the next is 2040. People born in it are said to combine clever and playful with the element's determined nature. Its Yin/Yang polarity is fixed as Yang for every Monkey year. See the Metal element and the full Metal Monkey profile.
1980 at a glance
| Animal | 🐒 Monkey (猴) |
|---|---|
| Element | Metal |
| Polarity | Yang |
| Best match | Snake |
| Hardest match | Tiger |
| Lucky numbers | 4, 9 |
| Lucky colors | white, gold, blue |
Monkey compatibility
In the traditional chart, a 1980 Monkey gets on best with the Snake (the "secret friend" pairing), and also with Rat and Dragon. The hardest pairing is the Tiger, six years apart in the cycle. See the full Monkey compatibility table.
Your zodiac years
The Monkey returns every 12 years, so someone born in 1980 is back in their own zodiac year in 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028 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 Monkey years
1932 1944 1956 1968 1992 2004 2016 2028 2040
Full Monkey personality profile → Monkey compatibility with every sign →
Know your exact birth date? Use the calculator for your full combination →
Frequently asked questions
What Chinese zodiac sign is 1980?
1980 is the year of the Monkey (Metal Monkey, Yang polarity). Anyone born on or after February 16, 1980 is a Monkey; a birthday earlier in 1980 belongs to the previous sign, the Goat.
What element is the 1980 zodiac year?
1980 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 1980 Monkey most compatible with?
Best matches are the Snake (the "secret friend"), plus the Rat and Dragon. The hardest match is the Tiger.
Is 1980 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 1980 is not a Fire Horse year.