Chinese zodiac
Year of the Monkey
The next Year of the Monkey is 2028 — the Earth Monkey. People born in a Year of the Monkey are traditionally said to be clever, curious and playful.
Monkey personality
Monkeys are clever, curious, playful and inventive — quick problem-solvers with a mischievous streak. Versatile, witty and sociable, they pick things up fast and love a challenge, and few signs are as adaptable. That same cleverness can slide into restlessness or a tendency to cut corners when boredom sets in.
The Monkey and the five elements
Each Year of the Monkey carries a different heavenly-stem element, so no two Monkeys are quite alike. The current cycle’s 2028 is the Earth Monkey.
- Wood Monkeygrowth-minded, generous and cooperative, taking the long view
- Fire Monkeydynamic, passionate and bold, quick to lead
- Earth Monkeygrounded, patient and dependable, building to last
- Metal Monkeydisciplined, determined and principled, holding a firm line
- Water Monkeyintuitive, adaptable and persuasive, reading people well
Monkey birth years and ages
Each zodiac year recurs every 12 years, with a different heavenly-stem element each time. Ages are the age reached during the year.
Monkey compatibility
Traditional matches follow the trine (San He), the secret-friend pair (Liu He) and the clash (Liu Chong), all set by the Monkey’s place in the twelve-year cycle.
- Trine — natural allies
- Rat and Dragon. Signs four places apart share the Monkey’s pace and outlook, and tend to understand each other quickly.
- Secret friend
- Snake. The single strongest one-to-one bond — supportive even when the two are not in the same trine.
- Clash — most tension
- Tiger. The opposite sign, six places away — not doomed, but the pairing that asks for the most communication and patience.
The Monkey in Singapore
Playful Monkey lanterns headline the Chinatown light-up in a Monkey year and are a favourite with children at River Hongbao, alongside the usual bak kwa queues and mandarin-orange gifting.