Up before dawn and ready with a plan, the Rooster in Chinese folk tradition is a hard worker with sharp eyes. It notices the typo, the missing receipt, the chair that is out of line. Tradition praises its honesty, punctuality, and pride in good work. The cautions it names are a critical streak and bluntness that can sting.
The Rooster is tenth among the twelve and corresponds to the branch 酉 (yǒu), a metal branch in tradition. This page shares the folk portrait as a mirror for reflection, not a fixed description.
Years of the Rooster
Each Rooster year begins on Lunar New Year. The eight most recent are:
- 2017 Fire Rooster: Jan 28, 2017 – Feb 15, 2018
- 2005 Wood Rooster: Feb 9, 2005 – Jan 28, 2006
- 1993 Water Rooster: Jan 23, 1993 – Feb 9, 1994
- 1981 Metal Rooster: Feb 5, 1981 – Jan 24, 1982
- 1969 Earth Rooster: Feb 17, 1969 – Feb 5, 1970
- 1957 Fire Rooster: Jan 31, 1957 – Feb 17, 1958
- 1945 Wood Rooster: Feb 13, 1945 – Feb 1, 1946
- 1933 Water Rooster: Jan 26, 1933 – Feb 13, 1934
Some Rooster years run long into the following January. The 1993 Water Rooster year lasted until Feb 9, 1994, so someone born on January 25, 1994 is still a Rooster. Others start late: the 1981 Metal Rooster year began on Feb 5, 1981, and January 1981 births belong to the Metal Monkey. The only safe rule for January and February birthdays is to check the dates. BaZi, 八字 (Bā Zì, the four-pillar birth chart), has its own boundary at Start of Spring, 立春 (Lì Chūn), which is February 4 in 2027. The zodiac calculator handles both systems.
Element by year
| Fire Rooster | 2017, 1957 |
|---|---|
| Wood Rooster | 2005, 1945 |
| Water Rooster | 1993, 1933 |
| Metal Rooster | 1981 |
| Earth Rooster | 1969 |
Tradition attaches one of the five elements, 五行 (wǔ xíng), to every Rooster year.
Fire Rooster (1957, 2017). Red fire adds confidence and drive. This Rooster is described as a natural organizer who likes to be seen doing good work. It may come across as forceful.
Wood Rooster (1945, 2005). With green wood, the Rooster softens and opens up. Tradition pictures a fair-minded, cooperative person who enjoys teamwork. It may take on too many commitments.
Water Rooster (1933, 1993). Water, in black and blue, brings eloquence. The Water Rooster is said to be clear-thinking and persuasive. It may lose time to perfecting details.
Metal Rooster (1981). White and gold metal sharpen every Rooster trait. This version is described as the most precise and principled of all. The folk reminder is to allow others a margin for error.
Earth Rooster (1969, 2029). Yellow and brown earth steady the Rooster. Tradition calls it practical, responsible, and hard to rattle. It may resist unconventional ideas.
Traditional personality traits
What tradition praises. The Rooster is commonly described as hardworking, punctual, and frank. It is pictured as diligent and well organized, a person who shows up on time and prepared. It is honest, sometimes to a fault, and tends to say what it thinks. Folk descriptions also credit it with a sharp eye for detail.
What tradition flags. It is also commonly described as picky. High standards can turn into criticism of self and others. Bluntness may hurt people who need a gentler tone.
In relationships and work
In close relationships, the traditional Rooster is devoted and practical. It shows care by keeping the household running and remembering commitments. A reflection point is to offer praise as freely as suggestions.
At work, the Rooster is described as reliable and exacting. Folk sources link it with careful, orderly work where accuracy and timing count. Many Rooster-year people use these notes as a reminder that finished and good is often better than perfect and late.
Best and challenging matches
These relationships come from classical branch rules. Use the zodiac compatibility calculator to see any pair.
Harmonious in the classical rules
- Three Harmony, 三合 (sān hé), with the Snake and the Ox, the 巳酉丑 (sì yǒu chǒu) group, a metal combination in tradition: Snake and Rooster, Ox and Rooster.
- Six Harmony, 六合 (liù hé), with the Dragon, 辰酉 (chén yǒu): Dragon and Rooster.
Challenging in the classical rules
- Clash, 六冲 (liù chōng), with the Rabbit, 卯酉 (mǎo yǒu): Rabbit and Rooster.
- Harm, 六害 (liù hài), with the Dog, 酉戌 (yǒu xū): Rooster and Dog.
- Self-punishment, 自刑 (zì xíng), between two Roosters: Rooster and Rooster.
Two Roosters may share the same exacting standards, which is one way to read the self-punishment rule. Many such pairs agree on which details really matter.
The Rooster in 2027
The Fire Goat year, 丁未 (Dīng Wèi), opens on February 6, 2027. The Rooster’s branch 酉 (yǒu) has none of the main relationships with 未 (wèi). In the traditional Tai Sui, 太岁 (Tài Suì, the year’s guardian star in folk belief), reading, 2027 is therefore a relatively neutral year. Without a strong traditional theme, a Rooster might set its own focus for the year. The Rooster 2027 forecast and the Fire Goat year overview go further.
Frequently asked questions
Was 2017 a Rooster year?
Yes. The Fire Rooster year ran from Jan 28, 2017 to Feb 15, 2018. Births on January 1-27, 2017 belong to the Fire Monkey year.
Why is the Rooster said to clash with the Rabbit?
The branches 卯 (mǎo) and 酉 (yǒu) sit opposite each other in the twelve-branch cycle, one of the six classical clash pairs. Tradition reads opposites as contrasting temperaments, not as a fixed outcome.
Is the Rooster the same as the Chicken?
Yes, the tenth sign is sometimes called the Chicken in English. Your BaZi chart can also contain 酉 (yǒu) in other pillars; the BaZi calculator shows where.