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What are the Personality Traits Associated with the Chinese Zodiac Sign Pig?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

People who are born in the Year of the Pig are known for being exacting, meticulous, a bit secretive, and also very loyal. The pig is a yin zodiac sign, with a lot of feminine influences, and the fixed element of the pig is water, contributing the traits of compassion, flexibility, intelligence, intuitiveness, and sensitivity. Water can also make pigs secretive and a bit self-destructive. People with this zodiac sign tend to be a bit shy, preferring to work in the background, rather than putting themselves forward, and they make extremely loyal, highly valued friends.

The signs of the Chinese zodiac are extremely complex. In addition to the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac, each animal also has a fixed element, and each year also has an element assigned to it. In the lengthy cycle of the Chinese zodiac, each animal sign appears paired with all five elements and their yin and yang aspects, so the year in which someone is born is very important, as is his or her place of birth and time of birth.

A young pig.
A young pig.

The trait most associated with the pig is honesty and loyalty. However, pigs are also very reserved. They tend to be withdrawn around new people and unfamiliar situations, opening up slowly. If you can earn the friendship of a pig, it is incredibly valuable, as pigs will fight for you and help you whenever and however they can. However, pigs don't stay friends with people forever; if they believe that someone is not acting with honesty and integrity, they can turn on them.

Pigs tend to get along with oxen.
Pigs tend to get along with oxen.

Pigs tend to have few close friends, and as a result many people form false impressions of them. Only a handful of people know the real side of someone with the zodiac sign of the pig; a pig's true personality tends to be very warm, friendly, and loving, but pigs may come across as aloof and sometimes even elitist to people who don't know them well. Pigs are also very reflective, leading some people to think that they are a bit dreamy, but they are extremely perceptive, and usually very up on what is going on around them.

People who are born under the pig zodiac tend not to get along well with those born under the monkey zodiac.
People who are born under the pig zodiac tend not to get along well with those born under the monkey zodiac.

These shy and sensitive types often choose professions which are more low-key, but still critical. Many pigs work as scientific researchers, for example, and they make very good managers, technicians, builders, and social workers. The pig method of work is slow but steady, with pauses for reflection and evaluation to ensure that the job is done right and well.

Rabbits, sheep, dogs, and tigers all get along very well with pigs. Pigs tend to conflict with monkeys, roosters, and snakes, while they get along reasonably well with other pigs, oxen, horses, dragons, and rats. You may also hear pigs referred to as boars, because in some cultures, the term “pig” carries offensive connotations.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

Handycell
I must say that the Chinese zodiac intrigues me, but I don’t know much about it. I did a little research and found out that I was the Pig. While I must admit that I can relate to a lot of what this article says, I’m curious more about the Chinese zodiac and how it came about. How do they clump certain birth years together?

For example, the Pig can be born in 1911, 1923, 1935, etc. Where do these exact numbers come from and how do they get grouped together? Any Chinese zodiac buffs out there care to explain?

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    • A young pig.
      By: Anatolii
      A young pig.
    • Pigs tend to get along with oxen.
      By: reborn55
      Pigs tend to get along with oxen.
    • People who are born under the pig zodiac tend not to get along well with those born under the monkey zodiac.
      By: sugar0607
      People who are born under the pig zodiac tend not to get along well with those born under the monkey zodiac.