The Tiger 虎
brave · confident · competitive · warm-hearted
Tiger personality
Best traits: brave, confident, competitive, warm-hearted. Tigers are natural leaders who take charge in a crisis and defend the people they care about. They are generous and rarely hold a grudge.
Weak spots: They can be impulsive, short-tempered, and impatient with slow decisions. Tigers dislike taking orders and may rush in without a plan.
Tiger years
People born in these years are Tigers (check the Chinese New Year cut-off if you were born in January or February):
1938 · 1950 · 1962 · 1974 · 1986 · 1998 · 2010 · 2022 · 2034
Tiger compatibility
- Best match: Pig — the classic "secret friend" pairing.
- Also strong: Horse, Dog (same affinity triangle).
- Hardest match: Monkey (direct opposition).
See how the Tiger pairs with all 12 signs →
The Tiger by element
Every Tiger also has one of five elements, set by the birth year: Wood Tiger · Fire Tiger · Earth Tiger · Metal Tiger · Water Tiger. The element colours the personality — see how the five elements work.
Lucky for the Tiger
Numbers: 1, 3, 4. Colors: blue, gray, orange. Suggested careers: manager, soldier, activist, actor, explorer.
Frequently asked questions
What years are Tiger years?
Recent Tiger years are 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022, 2034. They repeat every 12 years. If you were born in January or February, check the Chinese New Year date for your year.
What is the Tiger personality like?
Tigers are natural leaders who take charge in a crisis and defend the people they care about. They are generous and rarely hold a grudge. On the difficult side: They can be impulsive, short-tempered, and impatient with slow decisions. Tigers dislike taking orders and may rush in without a plan.
Who is the Tiger most compatible with?
The Pig (the "secret friend" pairing), plus the Horse and Dog. The hardest match is the Monkey.
Is the Tiger a lucky sign?
No sign is luckier than another in the Chinese zodiac — each has strengths and weaknesses. The Tiger's lucky numbers are 1, 3, 4 and lucky colors are blue, gray, orange.