1998 Chinese zodiac —
the Earth Tiger
| Animal sign | Tiger 寅 — the Earth Tiger |
|---|---|
| Element | Yang Earth (戊) |
| 1998 Tiger year | Jan 28, 1998 – Feb 15, 1999 |
| Born Jan 1 – Jan 27, 1998 | Fire Ox of 1997 |
| Korean saju year | Starts at Ipchun, Feb 4, 1998 |
| Best matches | Horse, Pig, Dog |
| Next Tiger year | 2034 (Wood Tiger) |
| Age in 2026 | 28 (Korean age 29) |
People born between Jan 28, 1998 and Feb 15, 1999 are an Earth Tiger. The Earth Tiger is the grounded Tiger, pairing courage with realism and a longer attention span.
Born in January or early February 1998?
The 1998 Tiger year began at Chinese New Year on Jan 28, 1998. If you were born from January 1 to Jan 27, 1998, your sign is the Fire Ox of 1997. The year ended on Feb 15, 1999, so birthdays in early 1999 up to that date still count as Tigers.
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, 1998 at about 09:53 Korea time — not at Lunar New Year. A birthday from Jan 28 to Feb 3, 1998 is already a Tiger by Lunar New Year but still 丁丑 (Fire Ox) in a saju chart. Why saju starts the year at Ipchun →
The Earth Tiger personality
The Earth Tiger is the grounded Tiger, pairing courage with realism and a longer attention span. Earth brings steadiness, patience and practical sense.
Tigers see the big picture and move first. They are generous and exciting to be around, and sometimes leave the clean-up to someone else. Strengths: the courage to start what others only discuss; natural authority; protectiveness toward the people they lead. Watch for: impatience; pride that turns small conflicts into big ones; boredom with routine.
Compatibility
Best matches for the Tiger: Horse (84/100), Pig (81/100), Dog (72/100). Hardest: Monkey (25), Rooster (42). All twelve Tiger matches →
Age
People born in the 1998 Tiger year turn 28 in 2026 (29 in Korean age) and 29 in 2027. The same Earth Tiger returns every sixty years — 1938 and 2058.
Tiger years
1926 Fire · 1938 Earth · 1950 Metal · 1962 Water · 1974 Wood · 1986 Fire · 1998 Earth · 2010 Metal · 2022 Water
The Tiger in 2027
The Year of the Fire Goat gives the Tiger 80/100 — a favorable year. Read the 2027 forecast →
Questions about the 1998 zodiac
What Chinese zodiac animal is 1998?
1998 is the Year of the Tiger — the Earth Tiger (戊寅). The Tiger year runs from Jan 28, 1998 to Feb 15, 1999: it starts at Chinese New Year, not on January 1.
Is someone born in January 1998 a Tiger?
Only if the birthday falls on or after Jan 28, 1998, when the Tiger year began. From January 1 to Jan 27, 1998, the sign is still the Fire Ox of 1997.
What element is the 1998 Tiger?
Earth. The year stem 戊 is yang earth, so everyone born in the 1998 Tiger year is an Earth Tiger. Earth brings steadiness, patience and practical sense.
When is the next Year of the Tiger?
2034 — the Wood Tiger. The Earth Tiger itself comes back every sixty years — 1938 and 2058.
Who is the Tiger most compatible with?
The Tiger’s best matches are the Horse (84/100), the Pig (81/100) and the Dog (72/100); the hardest are the Monkey (25) and the Rooster (42).
Nearby years
← 1997 Fire Ox · 1999 Earth Rabbit → · All years and the calculator
