Born in 2016: the Monkey
A Yang Fire Monkey 🐒
Monkeys are fast learners and natural problem-solvers with a sharp sense of humor. They improvise well and rarely stay stuck. As a Fire-element year, 2016 adds a dynamic, warm and a little restless streak to the usual Monkey character.
The 2016 lunar year ran from February 8, 2016 to January 28, 2017. If you were born on or after February 8, 2016 you are a Monkey; if you were born earlier in 2016, you belong to the previous year's sign, the Goat.
What the Fire element adds
Fire is the element of summer, energy and passion. A Fire year turns the volume up — more drive, more warmth, more willingness to take a risk — but also a shorter fuse and less patience for slow, routine work.
The full 60-year cycle pairs each of the 12 animals with each of the 5 elements, so a Fire Monkey year comes around only once every 60 years — the last one before 2016 was 1956, and the next is 2076. People born in it are said to combine clever and playful with the element's dynamic nature. Its Yin/Yang polarity is fixed as Yang for every Monkey year. See the Fire element and the full Fire Monkey profile.
2016 at a glance
| Animal | 🐒 Monkey (猴) |
|---|---|
| Element | Fire |
| Polarity | Yang |
| Best match | Snake |
| Hardest match | Tiger |
| Lucky numbers | 4, 9 |
| Lucky colors | white, gold, blue |
Monkey compatibility
In the traditional chart, a 2016 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 2016 is back in their own zodiac year in 2028, 2040, 2052, 2064 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 2004 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 2016?
2016 is the year of the Monkey (Fire Monkey, Yang polarity). Anyone born on or after February 8, 2016 is a Monkey; a birthday earlier in 2016 belongs to the previous sign, the Goat.
What element is the 2016 zodiac year?
2016 is a Fire-element year. Fire is the element of summer, energy and passion. A Fire year turns the volume up — more drive, more warmth, more willingness to take a risk — but also a shorter fuse and less patience for slow, routine work.
Who is a 2016 Monkey most compatible with?
Best matches are the Snake (the "secret friend"), plus the Rat and Dragon. The hardest match is the Tiger.
Is 2016 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 2016 is not a Fire Horse year.