Wood Tiger (甲寅): personality and meaning in the Chinese zodiac
The Wood Tiger, 甲寅, is wood twice over, the Tiger's own element at the opening of spring. The tradition reads it as creative, generous and outgoing, the most open-minded of the five Tigers.
Heavenly stem and earthly branch: 甲寅
Years: 1914, 1974, 2034
Character
甲寅 sets 甲, yang wood, the tall tree, over 寅, the Tiger's own yang wood, at the opening of spring. Doubled wood is the tradition's image of growth at full strength: a forest in spring, every tree reaching for the light.
People born in a Wood Tiger year are read as enthusiastic, idealistic and warm, with the Tiger's courage turned toward building and sharing. They are good team players for a Tiger, open to other views and generous with their time. The tradition's shadow for the Wood Tiger is overgrowth — so many directions at once that some branches never bear fruit — and an idealism that can be hurt when others do not share it.
In love and at work
In love the Wood Tiger is read as romantic, loyal and generous, bringing energy and new ideas to a relationship. At work it thrives in creative and collaborative fields — education, design, social causes, entrepreneurship. The tradition suggests it prune: choose the few projects that matter most.
A question to take with you
Which of your ideas would grow strongest if you gave it room by setting others aside?
Updated October 28, 2026