The Tiger: brave, bold and magnetic
The Tiger is the courageous adventurer of the Chinese zodiac: confident, passionate and born to lead. Read all about Tiger personality, love, work, friends and clashes, plus every Tiger year.
The full deep dive
The story of the Tiger
The Tiger came third in the Great Race, fighting its way across the strong currents of the river by sheer power and determination. It arrived soaked and exhausted, but proud, which is exactly how Tigers like to win.
Personality
Tigers are bold, energetic and full of conviction. They stand up for the underdog, chase big dreams and are rarely boring company. People are drawn to their confidence, and they make natural leaders and campaigners.
In love
In love, the Tiger is passionate, generous and wholehearted. They fall quickly and love deeply, but they need room to breathe. The best partner for a Tiger is one who admires their spirit without trying to tame it.
At work
Tigers thrive in leadership, adventure, activism, sport, entrepreneurship and anywhere that needs someone brave enough to go first. Routine work tends to make them restless.
Something to watch
The Tiger can act on impulse and struggles to take advice. Pausing before leaping, and finishing what they start, turns their courage into lasting success.
Friends, secret friend and clash
- Friend group: the Tiger shares its sunflower yellow colour on the wheel with the Horse and the Dog. Together they are the Protectors, and they understand each other easily.
- Secret friend: the Pig. This quiet, loyal bond is shown by a matching jewel on the inner ring.
- Clash: the Monkey, directly opposite on the wheel. The two pull in opposite directions, which can mean friction, or real growth if both are willing to learn.
You can read more in Friend groups, secret friends and clashes.
Element and season
The Tiger’s own fixed element is Wood, and it is a Yang sign. It belongs to spring on the wheel. Every Tiger year also carries a year element, which changes in a ten-year cycle, so a Fire Tiger and a Water Tiger share the same heart but show it differently. See The five elements for how the elements work.
Lucky things
Traditionally, the Tiger’s lucky numbers are 1, 3 and 4, its lucky colours are blue, grey and orange, and its lucky flowers are cineraria.
Tiger years
Your animal changes at Lunar New Year, not on 1 January. If you were born in January or early February, check the dates below carefully: you may belong to the animal before.
| Year | Starts | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Tiger | 13 February 1926 | 1 February 1927 |
| Earth Tiger | 31 January 1938 | 18 February 1939 |
| Metal Tiger | 17 February 1950 | 5 February 1951 |
| Water Tiger | 5 February 1962 | 24 January 1963 |
| Wood Tiger | 23 January 1974 | 10 February 1975 |
| Fire Tiger | 9 February 1986 | 28 January 1987 |
| Earth Tiger | 28 January 1998 | 15 February 1999 |
| Metal Tiger | 14 February 2010 | 2 February 2011 |
| Water Tiger | 1 February 2022 | 21 January 2023 |
Sources and perspectives
- Theodora Lau, The Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes
- Derek Walters, The Complete Guide to Chinese Astrology
- Hong Kong Observatory, the Chinese calendar