The Monkey is the zodiac’s problem-solver. Chinese folk tradition describes it as clever, inventive, and endlessly curious, the person who takes the gadget apart to see how it works. It is fun company and quick with a joke. Traditional readings balance this with one main caution: restlessness and scattered focus.
Ninth in the sequence, the Monkey belongs to the branch 申 (shēn), a metal branch in tradition. Everything on this page is folk tradition, shared for reflection rather than as a description anyone must fit.
Years of the Monkey
Lunar New Year marks the start of every Monkey year. These are the eight most recent:
- 2016 Fire Monkey: Feb 8, 2016 – Jan 27, 2017
- 2004 Wood Monkey: Jan 22, 2004 – Feb 8, 2005
- 1992 Water Monkey: Feb 4, 1992 – Jan 22, 1993
- 1980 Metal Monkey: Feb 16, 1980 – Feb 4, 1981
- 1968 Earth Monkey: Jan 30, 1968 – Feb 16, 1969
- 1956 Fire Monkey: Feb 12, 1956 – Jan 30, 1957
- 1944 Wood Monkey: Jan 25, 1944 – Feb 12, 1945
- 1932 Water Monkey: Feb 6, 1932 – Jan 25, 1933
The next Monkey year, an Earth Monkey, begins on Jan 26, 2028. That is an early date, so a baby born on January 20, 2028 is still a Fire Goat. The pattern repeats across the list. The 1992 Water Monkey year began on Feb 4, 1992, while 1980 started on Feb 16, 1980, leaving early February 1980 under the Earth Goat. BaZi, 八字 (Bā Zì, the four-pillar birth chart), ignores Lunar New Year and turns the year at Start of Spring, 立春 (Lì Chūn); for 2027 that is February 4. The Chinese zodiac calculator checks both.
Element by year
| Fire Monkey | 2016, 1956 |
|---|---|
| Wood Monkey | 2004, 1944 |
| Water Monkey | 1992, 1932 |
| Metal Monkey | 1980 |
| Earth Monkey | 1968 |
Tradition pairs each Monkey year with one of the five elements, 五行 (wǔ xíng).
Fire Monkey (1956, 2016). Red fire makes for a bold, energetic Monkey. Tradition describes a competitive spirit and a gift for persuasion. It may jump into debates it could skip.
Wood Monkey (1944, 2004). Green wood suggests growth and curiosity. The Wood Monkey is pictured as a lifelong learner who enjoys sharing what it knows. It may get restless when progress is slow.
Water Monkey (1932, 1992). Water’s black and blue bring subtlety. This Monkey is said to be diplomatic and perceptive, good at reading what people want. Folk readings note it may keep its real plans to itself.
Metal Monkey (1980). Metal, in white and gold, adds independence and confidence. The Metal Monkey is described as skilled and self-reliant. It may prefer working alone to working in a team.
Earth Monkey (1968, 2028). Yellow and brown earth steady the Monkey. Tradition pictures a reliable, thoughtful version, more patient than its cousins. The next Monkey year, 2028, carries this element.
Traditional personality traits
The Monkey is commonly described as clever, flexible, and funny. Its strengths, as tradition describes them, start with wit. It sees angles others miss and enjoys a puzzle. It is also adaptable, comfortable when plans change at short notice, and its humor makes it easy to like.
It is also commonly described as restless, and the cautions are the shadow side of the same gifts. A mind that loves novelty can lose interest halfway through a task. Restlessness may lead the Monkey to skip the details that matter.
In relationships and work
The traditional Monkey brings humor and fresh ideas to a relationship, and it values a partner who can keep up in conversation. Boredom is its main challenge. A reflection point is to show steadiness on ordinary days as well as charm on special ones.
At work, folk descriptions link the Monkey with tasks where problems change daily and quick, flexible thinking helps. Strict routines may feel confining. Many Monkey-year people use this as a reminder to pair each new idea with a finish line.
Best and challenging matches
Tradition reads pairings by branch relationships. Any combination can be checked in the zodiac compatibility calculator.
Harmonious pairings
- Three Harmony, 三合 (sān hé), with the Rat and the Dragon, the 申子辰 (shēn zǐ chén) group, a water combination in tradition: Rat and Monkey, Dragon and Monkey.
- Six Harmony, 六合 (liù hé), with the Snake, 巳申 (sì shēn): Snake and Monkey.
Challenging pairings
- Clash, 六冲 (liù chōng), with the Tiger, 寅申 (yín shēn): Tiger and Monkey.
- Harm, 六害 (liù hài), with the Pig, 申亥 (shēn hài): Monkey and Pig.
- Punishment, 三刑 (sān xíng), in the 寅巳申 (yín sì shēn) group with the Tiger and the Snake, traditionally named the punishment of ingratitude.
The Snake again holds a double label, as a harmony partner and as part of the punishment group. Many readers describe that pairing as close, clever, and in need of plain agreements.
The Monkey in 2027
The Fire Goat year, 丁未 (Dīng Wèi), runs from February 6, 2027 to January 25, 2028. The Monkey’s branch 申 (shēn) has no main relationship with the year branch 未 (wèi). So 2027 is a relatively neutral year in the traditional Tai Sui, 太岁 (Tài Suì, the year’s guardian star in folk belief), reading. It also sits just before the Monkey’s own year, which begins on Jan 26, 2028. Some Monkeys might use 2027 as a preparation year for their own plans. See the Monkey 2027 forecast and the Year of the Fire Goat overview.
Frequently asked questions
Is 2028 a Monkey year?
Yes. The 2028 Earth Monkey year, 戊申 (wù shēn), begins on Jan 26, 2028. Anything before that date belongs to the 2027 Fire Goat year.
Are Monkeys and Tigers a bad match?
Tradition labels 寅申 (yín shēn) a clash, which points to contrasting styles. That is a prompt for honest conversation, not a forecast about any couple.
Does every Monkey have the same chart?
No. The Monkey is only the year branch. Month, day, and hour add three more pillars. The BaZi calculator shows the full picture.