‘猪年’ (zhū nián) literally means ‘Pig Year’ and refers to any year in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac that is associated with the Pig. The Chinese zodiac assigns an animal to each year based on the lunar calendar, and the Pig is the twelfth and final sign — preceding the Rat and completing the cycle. People born in a Pig year (e.g., 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031) are traditionally believed to possess traits like compassion, generosity, and diligence.

This term is used most commonly during Lunar New Year celebrations, when greetings often reference the incoming zodiac year (e.g., ‘Happy Year of the Pig!’), and in horoscopes, cultural discussions, and birthday contexts. It appears in calendars, news headlines, and festive decorations, always paired with the specific Gregorian year (e.g., ‘2019 is the Year of the Pig’). Unlike Western astrology, which uses months, the Chinese zodiac year begins on Lunar New Year’s Day, not January 1.