In the continuous sexagenary cycle, every twelfth year corresponds to Hai, and is commonly called "the Year of the Pig" (豬年).There are five types of pig, named after the Chinese elements. In order, they are:Metal, Water, Wood, Fire, and Earth. Less commonly, it is also called "the Year of the Boar", for two reasons. First, the character 豬, which denotes pigs generally in Chinese, is used in Japanese to refer specifically to wild boars. Secondly, the pig has negative connotations in some Western cultures, and may even be considered a profanity. In official usage among English-speaking countries, Singapore and the United States prefer the term "Year of the Boar", while Commonwealth countries such as Australia , Canada and the United Kingdom prefer the term "Year of the Pig".
