Metal: Only when metal is strong and supported by fire can it become a vessel.
Metal can generate water, but too much water will sink the metal; strong metal needs water to temper its sharpness.
Metal can overcome wood, but if there is too much wood, the metal will be weak; if wood is weak and meets metal, it will be cut down.
Metal relies on earth to be generated, but too much earth will bury the metal; earth can generate metal, but too much metal can change the earth.
In terms of the Eight Characters (Ba Zi), the Metal Element overcomes the Wood Element, as metal overcomes wood. Metal is firm, while wood is soft; firm overcomes soft. Metal overcoming wood is like metal cutting wood. Additionally, it also depends on the amount of wood in the Eight Characters. If there is too much wood, the metal will be weak, and thus cannot overcome the wood. This is why some people say that a woman with Wood Element and a man with Metal Element are incompatible.

— Wood-type people are endowed with the wind's energy, like the wind. Wind is yang and active, so Wood-type people are agile, capable, and quick-minded. They move swiftly, like a gust of wind, but wind is changeable, so the personality of Wood-type people is generally unstable. Sometimes they are like a stormy wind, sometimes like a gentle breeze. They may be gentle or stubborn at times. Their shortcomings include being defiant, not obeying authority, and contradicting their superiors. Wood-type people are wise and reliable, progressive, and capable of cooperating with others. — The personality of Metal Element people is usually firm and strong, with a hard and unyielding character. They can endure hardship and adversity. They are connected with the masses, cherish their hometown and relatives, have clear distinctions between love and hate, and despise enemies deeply, always striving for complete victory. The position of Metal Element people is in the west; they generally should sit facing east while working. It is easy to gain wealth from the southwest and central areas; their contributions and careers lie in the north; they experience fatigue and resistance in the east; they face obstacles in the south. Generally, they encounter setbacks in the south, except for those with Sand-embedded Metal who need the southern fire to refine them before becoming useful, and they can achieve good fortune.