Year of the Tiger: Fortune, Personality, Horoscope (2025)
Tiger is the 3rd animal in the 12-year cycle of the animals of the Chinese zodiac, coming after the Ox and before the Rabbit. Recent years of the Tiger include 2022, 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962, and 1950, with the next Tiger year in 2034 (Year of the Wood Tiger). In Chinese astrology, the Year of the Tiger corresponds with the earthly branch symbol yin.
Tiger is a brash, passionate, and confident leader with a keen sense of adventure. They are chivalrous and upright and will keep their word at all costs, making them trustworthy despite their apparently dominating charisma.
Chinese Zodiac Years for Tiger
The 12-year cycle of Chinese zodiac signs follows the Chinese lunar calendar, and doesn’t perfectly correspond with the Gregorian calendar (which uses the sun instead of the moon). You can use a zodiac calculator like one below to find your sign.
Chinese zodiac calculator
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This means when determining your zodiac animal sign, pay attention to when the Lunar New Year (Chinese New Year) begins—especially if you were born in January or February—as your zodiac may be the previous year’s animal (use the chart below).
Chart of Years, Dates, and Elements for Tiger Zodiac Signs
Tiger Year | Lunar Year Start Date | Lunar Year End Date | Element |
|---|---|---|---|
1926 | February 13, 1926 | February 1, 1927 | Fire |
1938 | January 31, 1938 | February 18, 1939 | Earth |
1950 | February 17, 1950 | February 5, 1951 | Metal |
1962 | February 5, 1962 | January 24, 1963 | Water |
1974 | January 23, 1974 | February 10, 1975 | Wood |
1986 | February 9, 1986 | January 28, 1987 | Fire |
1998 | January 28, 1998 | February 15, 1999 | Earth |
2010 | February 14, 2010 | February 2, 2011 | Metal |
2022 | February 1, 2022 | January 21, 2023 | Water |
2034 | January 19, 2034 | February 7, 2035 | Wood |
Tiger’s 2025 Horoscope (Year of the Snake)
While Tigers may face challenges in interpersonal relationships and minor health issues in 2025, strong Guiren energy will guide you through these obstacles. By focusing on cautious financial planning and maintaining family health, you can ensure a smoother year ahead.
Read more: Tiger’s 2025 Horoscope (Love, Career, Wealth, Health)
Personality Traits of Tiger Signs
The Tiger personality is fiercely independent, confident, and bold. Tigers are charismatic and enthusiastic by nature, although these big cats are usually not gregarious, and always seem to possess an endlessly infectious energy that keeps others engaged, especially as leaders at work.
Anyone who’s crossed paths with Tigers would be struck by their natural presence. Their vitality is apparent at a glance, and people are instinctively drawn to this larger-than-life quality in these swashbuckling characters.
Tigers are courageous and active people who love a good challenge and adventure in life.
Tigers usually possess a keen sense of justice from a young age and will take a stand for what’s right. However, they’re not exactly tactical with such confrontations, which may rub some the wrong way.
Tigers are a loyal and honorable bunch who will, however, choose to service their ambition before attending to other aspects of life. Even a king requires a kingdom to truly inhabit their power, after all!
Tiger Strengths
Tigers are courageous and authoritative with sky-high ambitions that aren’t just pipe dreams to these adventurers. In fact, Tigers often become pioneers working tirelessly to realize their dream of changing the world in some way.
Tigers don’t care to mince words for any reason and will always speak their mind boldly without condescension. They are honest, judicious, and chivalrous in a way that’s almost too honorable for the modern world.
Tiger Weaknesses
Tigers, especially in their greener years, are often too proud to communicate, which leaves them feeling lonely. Likewise, they can be dictators in love and unable to find romantic satisfaction until they learn to compromise.
In pursuit of their goals, Tigers can be stubborn and brash, which may appear too domineering for others’ tastes because Tigers may very well disregard others’ feelings with such a single-minded focus on their pursuit.
Tiger Zodiacs and the Five Elements Theory
The Chinese Five Elements Theory assigns one of the five elements—Metal, Water, Wood, Fire, and Earth—to each year, in addition to the zodiacs. For example, a Tiger born in the last Year of the Tiger will have a different personality from Tigers born in other years.
Lucky (and Unlucky) Things for Tigers
Tigers’ luck and good fortune are associated with blue and green, 2 and 7, the northeast direction, and green plants. Meanwhile, white, 4 and 9, and open containers of water are inauspicious and should be avoided if possible.
And remember to wear red for good luck when it's your year (the Year of the Tiger is your Ben Ming Nian, the zodiac that shares your birth year). In Chinese culture, the year of your zodiac animal can actually bring bad luck!
Lucky Things
Lucky numbers: 2, 7
Lucky colors: Blue, Green
Lucky directions: Northeast
Lucky flowers: Plum Blossoms, Chrysanthemum, Cineraria
Unlucky Things
Unlucky numbers: 4, 9
Unlucky colors: White
Unlucky directions: Southwest
Love and Compatibility for Tigers
Tigers make great romantic partners but may sometimes come off as pushy in their exuberant courtship, which might overwhelm more reserved signs, while Tigers are obliviously intoxicated by romance—all good once they calm down.
Despite their dominant exterior, Tigers often look forward to a life filled with romance with a child-like wonder, expecting fairy tales. Because they’re naturally passionate, their partner may not know how to match their passion.
❤️ Best Match: Tiger and Horse
Tiger and Horse are two larger-than-life zodiac signs who, instead of clashing, recognize the other’s energy and ambition as on par with their own. In terms of compatibility, sharing their dreams with each other will come naturally to them.
For Tiger, it’s essential that they not only like their partner but respect them, too. Horse’s activity and confidence inspire precisely that. It’s a union in which both partners move forward in the world together.
❤️ Best Match: Tiger and Dog
Tiger will be the undeniable leader in this relationship, but that doesn’t mean they’ll disrespect Dog. Instead, this will be a harmonious and cohesive partnership from which both parties will stand to benefit greatly.
“Too many cooks” won’t be a problem in this kitchen, as Dog will take a step back when Tiger gets in a quarrelsome mood, which Tiger will compensate with ample affection when they calm down.
❤️ Best Match: Tiger and Pig
You’d think Tiger would find Pig sloppy, but then you’d be wrong. Perhaps Tiger’s tired of being so independent and high-strung, but in any case, when they meet Pig, they’re going to be charmed instantly.
Pig’s laid back attitude conceals a calm and generous nature, which Tiger finds attractive in their partner, while Tiger’s fiery personality inspires Pig to pursue their goals and grow to be an equal to their partner.
Worst Matches: Monkey, Snake
Tiger and Monkey: These two zodiac signs clash terribly since Tiger is strong-willed and ambitious but often incapable of listening to others’ ideas, while Monkey can be temperamental and unwilling to back down even when Tiger’s temper flares.
As a couple, they will quarrel over everything and end with both being selfish toward their partner. This pairing will most likely not last for very long, with a hasty marriage inevitably ending in divorce.
Tiger and Snake: It’ll be difficult for this pairing to come together since they are almost polar opposites in temperament and preference and won’t find it easy to understand the other person’s opinion, position, or motivation in life.
Tiger is passionate and direct, while Snake is cautious and suspicious. Snake finds Tiger overpowering, while Tiger finds Snake difficult to get to know. Without the ability to communicate, this pairing is destined to fail.
Careers fit for the Chinese Zodiac Tiger
Tigers are ambitious to a fault but don’t mistake that for greed or desire for financial rewards alone. On the contrary, their highest pursuit often exists only in ideals that are impossible to fully realize.
That doesn’t mean these decisive and bold leaders will ever stop trying. They dislike mundane work but can thrive in an environment where they must reinvent themselves daily. Tigers certainly crave a good challenge.
Tigers may gravitate towards politics, business and investing, or competitive sports, where they’ll have the opportunity to push themselves past their personal limit each day. Otherwise, Tigers may choose to go into business for themselves.
Best careers for Tigers:
Politician
Stock Trader
Entrepreneur
Athlete
Scientist
Worst careers for Tigers:
Accountant
Sales Associate
Project Manager
Data Analyst
Insurance Agent
Health and Lifestyle Advice for Tigers
Tigers are often those stubborn people who refuse to see a doctor even when they don’t feel well, which is definitely not advised! In addition, Tigers can be temperamental and neurotic, leading to emotional stress.
It won’t be easy for this ambitious sign to keep a healthy schedule and try to get enough sleep; nonetheless, that’s what they need to keep their mood in check and their bodies in shape.
Tiger and the 12 Zodiac Animals (Origin Story)
The Chinese have an origin story or myth that describes a celestial race in which the animals earned their place on the zodiac’s list. The king of the jungle was a favorite to win. Why didn’t it?
The Jade Emperor, wanting to choose 12 animals as the zodiacs, organized the race across the celestial river. The Tiger thought it befitted its important position to win and worked hard to swim quickly.
Unfortunately, the Tiger didn’t take to water as well as the Ox, and even more infuriatingly, the Rat used the Ox to get ahead of everyone else, leaving the proud Tiger in 3rd place.
Famous People Born in the Year of the Tiger
Tigers’ charisma naturally makes them the center of attention, known for their unique, personalized style and the courage to strike out on their own path.
Jim Carrey: January 17, 1962, Water Tiger
Megan Fox: May 16, 1986, Fire Tiger
Leonardo DiCaprio: November 11, 1974, Wood Tiger
Shawn Mendes: August 8, 1998, Earth Tiger
Dr. Phil: September 1, 1950, Metal Tiger
Tom Cruise: July 3, 1962, Water Tiger
Lady Gaga: March 28, 1986, Fire Tiger
Marilyn Monroe: June 1, 1926, Fire Tiger
Queen Elizabeth II: April 21, 1926, Fire Tiger