1981 Chinese zodiac —
the Metal Rooster
| Animal sign | Rooster 酉 — the Metal Rooster |
|---|---|
| Element | Yin Metal (辛) |
| 1981 Rooster year | Feb 5, 1981 – Jan 24, 1982 |
| Born Jan 1 – Feb 4, 1981 | Metal Monkey of 1980 |
| Korean saju year | Starts at Ipchun, Feb 4, 1981 |
| Best matches | Dragon, Ox, Snake |
| Next Rooster year | 2029 (Earth Rooster), from Feb 13, 2029 |
| Age in 2026 | 45 (Korean age 46) |
People born between Feb 5, 1981 and Jan 24, 1982 are a Metal Rooster. The Metal Rooster is exacting and confident, uncompromising about standards — their own most of all.
Born in January or early February 1981?
The 1981 Rooster year began at Chinese New Year on Feb 5, 1981. If you were born from January 1 to Feb 4, 1981, your sign is the Metal Monkey of 1980. The year ended on Jan 24, 1982, so birthdays in early 1982 up to that date still count as Roosters.
The Korean saju year starts at Ipchun
In Korean saju (the Four Pillars), the year pillar changes at Ipchun, the start of spring — Feb 4, 1981 at about 06:55 Korea time — not at Lunar New Year. A birthday from Feb 4, 1981 is already 辛酉 (Metal Rooster) in a saju chart but still a Monkey by Lunar New Year. Why saju starts the year at Ipchun →
The Metal Rooster personality
The Metal Rooster is exacting and confident, uncompromising about standards — their own most of all. Both the year stem and the Rooster’s own branch are Metal, so the Metal character is doubled this year. Metal brings resolve, standards and clean decisions.
Roosters set clear standards and work hard to meet them. They are exact about plans, time and order. Strengths: diligence; precision and organization; honesty. Watch for: criticism that stings; perfectionism; bluntness mistaken for coldness.
Compatibility
Best matches for the Rooster: Dragon (88/100), Ox (84/100), Snake (72/100). Hardest: Rabbit (32), Tiger (42). All twelve Rooster matches →
Age
People born in the 1981 Rooster year turn 45 in 2026 (46 in Korean age) and 46 in 2027. The same Metal Rooster returns every sixty years — 1921 and 2041.
Rooster years
1933 Water · 1945 Wood · 1957 Fire · 1969 Earth · 1981 Metal · 1993 Water · 2005 Wood · 2017 Fire · 2029 Earth
The Rooster in 2027
The Year of the Fire Goat gives the Rooster 76/100 — a steady year. Read the 2027 forecast →
Questions about the 1981 zodiac
What Chinese zodiac animal is 1981?
1981 is the Year of the Rooster — the Metal Rooster (辛酉). The Rooster year runs from Feb 5, 1981 to Jan 24, 1982: it starts at Chinese New Year, not on January 1.
Is someone born in January 1981 a Rooster?
Only if the birthday falls on or after Feb 5, 1981, when the Rooster year began. From January 1 to Feb 4, 1981, the sign is still the Metal Monkey of 1980.
What element is the 1981 Rooster?
Metal. The year stem 辛 is yin metal, so everyone born in the 1981 Rooster year is a Metal Rooster. Metal brings resolve, standards and clean decisions.
When is the next Year of the Rooster?
2029, starting Feb 13, 2029 — the Earth Rooster. The Metal Rooster itself comes back every sixty years — 1921 and 2041.
Who is the Rooster most compatible with?
The Rooster’s best matches are the Dragon (88/100), the Ox (84/100) and the Snake (72/100); the hardest are the Rabbit (32) and the Tiger (42).
Nearby years
← 1980 Metal Monkey · 1982 Water Dog → · All years and the calculator
