Born in 2004: the Monkey
A Yang Wood Monkey 🐒
Monkeys are fast learners and natural problem-solvers with a sharp sense of humor. They improvise well and rarely stay stuck. As a Wood-element year, 2004 adds a cooperative, growth-minded and quietly generous streak to the usual Monkey character.
The 2004 lunar year ran from January 22, 2004 to February 9, 2005. If you were born on or after January 22, 2004 you are a Monkey; if you were born earlier in 2004, you belong to the previous year's sign, the Goat.
What the Wood element adds
Wood is the element of spring, growth and cooperation. A Wood year tends to soften an animal's sharper edges and push it toward teamwork, patience and building things that last rather than chasing quick wins.
The full 60-year cycle pairs each of the 12 animals with each of the 5 elements, so a Wood Monkey year comes around only once every 60 years — the last one before 2004 was 1944, and the next is 2064. People born in it are said to combine clever and playful with the element's cooperative nature. Its Yin/Yang polarity is fixed as Yang for every Monkey year. See the Wood element and the full Wood Monkey profile.
2004 at a glance
| Animal | 🐒 Monkey (猴) |
|---|---|
| Element | Wood |
| Polarity | Yang |
| Best match | Snake |
| Hardest match | Tiger |
| Lucky numbers | 4, 9 |
| Lucky colors | white, gold, blue |
Monkey compatibility
In the traditional chart, a 2004 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 2004 is back in their own zodiac year in 2016, 2028, 2040, 2052 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 1980 1992 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 2004?
2004 is the year of the Monkey (Wood Monkey, Yang polarity). Anyone born on or after January 22, 2004 is a Monkey; a birthday earlier in 2004 belongs to the previous sign, the Goat.
What element is the 2004 zodiac year?
2004 is a Wood-element year. Wood is the element of spring, growth and cooperation. A Wood year tends to soften an animal's sharper edges and push it toward teamwork, patience and building things that last rather than chasing quick wins.
Who is a 2004 Monkey most compatible with?
Best matches are the Snake (the "secret friend"), plus the Rat and Dragon. The hardest match is the Tiger.
Is 2004 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 2004 is not a Fire Horse year.