Year of the Tiger tattoo
The Chinese zodiac Tiger is 虎 (hǔ). It is the third of the twelve animals, and people born in Tiger years are brave, confident and full of energy.
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The Tiger · Chinese zodiac
What 虎 means.
The tiger is the king of beasts in Chinese tradition and a guardian against evil; children still wear tiger-head shoes and hats for protection.
- Character
- 虎tiger
- Traditional
- Written the same in simplified and traditional Chinese
- Born in
- 属虎“born in the year of the Tiger”
- Year branch
- 寅the Earthly Branch of Tiger years
- Fixed element
- Wood 木
Years of the Tiger
- 1938Earth Tiger
- 1950Metal Tiger
- 1962Water Tiger
- 1974Wood Tiger
- 1986Fire Tiger
- 1998Earth Tiger
- 2010Metal Tiger
- 2022Water Tiger
- 2034Wood Tiger
In everyday use the animal changes at Chinese New Year, between 21 January and 20 February; Chinese astrology changes it at the start of spring, around 4 February. If you were born in January or early February, your sign may be the previous year's animal; the Chinese element calculator works it out from your exact birth date.
Lucky matches and clashes
The Tiger shares a “three harmonies” group with the Horse and the Dog, the signs that bring the Tiger luck. Its opposite in the cycle is the Monkey, its classic clash. A full reading compares whole charts, not just signs.
About the Tiger in Chinese
What is the Chinese character for the Tiger?
The zodiac Tiger is 虎 (hǔ), meaning tiger. It is written the same in simplified and traditional Chinese.
Which years are Tiger years?
1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022 and 2034. In everyday use each year begins at Chinese New Year (between 21 January and 20 February), and in Chinese astrology at the start of spring (around 4 February), so a birthday in January or early February may belong to the previous sign.
How do you say “born in the year of the Tiger” in Chinese?
属虎 (shǔ hǔ). 属 means “to belong to”, so 我属虎 (wǒ shǔ hǔ) is how a Chinese speaker says “I was born in the year of the Tiger”.
Which signs go well with the Tiger?
The Tiger shares a “three harmonies” group with the Horse and the Dog, the signs that bring it luck. Its opposite in the cycle is the Monkey, its classic clash. A full reading compares whole charts, not just signs.
What element is the Tiger?
The Tiger's year branch, 寅 (yín), belongs to Wood. Each Tiger year also has its own element from the year's last digit: 2022 was a Water Tiger. Your personal element in Chinese astrology comes from your full birth chart, which the free element calculator works out.
Is 虎 a good Chinese tattoo?
Yes. 虎 is the real character Chinese speakers use for the Tiger, and as a single character it works 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.