February 14, 2010 begins 虎年 hǔnián, year of the tiger. (The previous year was ox.)
虎年 is the third year in the 12-year cycle. It corresponds to 寅 yín, the third of the 12 地支 dìzhī earthly branches (子丑寅卯辰巳午未申酉戌亥).
In the 60-year cycle, 2010 is 庚寅 gēngyín, the 27th year. (The current cycle started in 1984, 甲子 jiǎzǐ.) 庚 gēng is the seventh of the 10 天干 tiāngān heavenly stems (甲乙丙丁戊己庚辛壬癸), and is associated with metal (jīn 金). Therefore 2010 can be called the year of the metal tiger.
Tigers are an endangered species. According to World Wildlife Fund, there could be as few as 3,200 tigers left in the wild.
Here is the whole 12-year cycle (鼠牛虎兔龙蛇马羊猴鸡狗猪):
2020, 2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960, 1948, 1936, 1924, 1912, 1900
2021, 2009, 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961, 1949, 1937, 1925, 1913, 1901
2022, 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962, 1950, 1938, 1926, 1914, 1902
2023, 2011, 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963, 1951, 1939, 1927, 1915, 1903
2024, 2012, 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964, 1952, 1940, 1928, 1916, 1904
2025, 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965, 1953, 1941, 1929, 1917, 1905
2026, 2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966, 1954, 1942, 1930, 1918, 1906
2027, 2015, 2003, 1991, 1979, 1967, 1955, 1943, 1931, 1919, 1907
2028, 2016, 2004, 1992, 1980, 1968, 1956, 1944, 1932, 1920, 1908
2029, 2017, 2005, 1993, 1981, 1969, 1957, 1945, 1933, 1921, 1909
2030, 2018, 2006, 1994, 1982, 1970, 1958, 1946, 1934, 1922, 1910
2031, 2019, 2007, 1995, 1983, 1971, 1959, 1947, 1935, 1923, 1911
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