Metal element tattoo
Metal in Chinese is 金 (jīn), one of the five elements, 五行 (wǔ xíng). It stands for clarity, structure and refinement, like a polished blade.
jīn
Metal · one of the five elements
What 金 means.
金 means both metal and gold, and by extension money. It is one of the most common characters in Chinese names.
- Character
- 金metal, gold; the same in simplified and traditional Chinese
- Virtue
- righteousness (义 yì)
- Colours
- whitesilvergoldlight grey
- Season
- Autumn
- Direction
- West
- Numbers
- 4 and 9
- In nature
- Crisp autumn air, metals and minerals
- Years
- Years ending in 0 and 1
Yang and yin Metal
- 庚Yang Metalthe sword
- 辛Yin Metalthe jewel
Each element has a yang and a yin side, written with two of the ten Heavenly Stems. In a Chinese birth chart, the stem of the day you were born is your day master: your own element.
In the cycles
- Earth bears Metal, and Metal carries Water in the generating cycle.
- Fire melts Metal, and Metal cuts Wood in the controlling cycle.
Your element isn't just your birth year.
Years ending in 0 and 1 are Metal years, but in Chinese astrology your own element is your day master, from the day you were born. The free calculator reads your full birth chart and shows how the five elements balance in it.
About metal in Chinese
What is the Chinese character for metal?
金 (jīn), meaning metal, gold. It is one of the five elements, 五行 (wǔ xíng), and is written the same in simplified and traditional Chinese.
What does the Metal element stand for?
Metal stands for clarity, structure and refinement, like a polished blade. Its virtue is righteousness (义 yì), its season autumn, its direction west, and its colours white, silver, gold, light grey.
How do I know if Metal is my element?
Many people go by their birth year: years ending in 0 and 1 are Metal years. In Chinese astrology, though, your own element is your day master, the element of the day you were born, and it often differs from your year. The free element calculator finds it from your birth date.
Which zodiac signs belong to Metal?
The Monkey and Rooster have Metal as their fixed element. Each zodiac year also takes an element from its last digit, so there are Metal years of every sign.
How does Metal relate to the other elements?
Earth bears Metal and Metal carries Water in the generating cycle. Fire melts Metal and Metal cuts Wood in the controlling cycle.
Is 金 a good Chinese tattoo?
Yes. 金 is a simple, well-known character, and every Chinese reader will recognise it as metal. With few strokes it stays clear even at small sizes. Choose a readable style such as Kaishu, bring a clean reference to your artist, and show it to a fluent reader before your appointment.