1948 Chinese Zodiac: Year of the Earth Rat
戊子 · 鼠 Shǔ
1948 is the Year of the Earth Rat. The Chinese year ran from Feb 10, 1948 to Jan 28, 1949, so anyone born in that span is an Earth Rat. Born in January or early February? Lunar New Year fell on Feb 10, 1948, and earlier births belong to the Fire Pig year.
- Rat
- Earth
- Yang
Born in 1948?
Enter your birth date to check, down to the exact Lunar New Year.
Month and day are optional. Add them if you were born in January or February. See January and February Chinese zodiac.
1948 at a Glance
- Animal
- Rat 鼠 shǔ
- Element
- Earth
- Yin or Yang
- Yang
- Year name
- 戊子 · sound element 霹雳火
- Begins
- Tuesday, Feb 10, 1948
- Ends
- Jan 28, 1949
- Age in 2026
- 77 or 78
- Next Rat year
- 1960
1948 Earth Rat: A Late New Year
Lunar New Year 1948 came late, on Feb 10, 1948. Anyone born from January 1 to Feb 9, 1948 is a Fire Pig from the 1947 year, which surprises many people who have always been told they are a Rat.
1948 starts a new twelve-year round, since the Rat is the first animal. The year name 戊子 carries the sound element 霹雳火, “thunderbolt fire,” in Chinese tradition. 1948 Rats turn 78 in 2026, a Horse year, and the Horse sits directly opposite the Rat on the zodiac wheel.
Born in January or Early February 1948?
The Chinese year does not start on January 1. Lunar New Year 1948 was on Tuesday, Feb 10, 1948, so births before that date belong to the year before.
| Born | Sign | Year name |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 to Feb 9, 1948 | Fire Pig | 丁亥 |
| Feb 10, 1948 to Jan 28, 1949 | Earth Rat | 戊子 |
So someone born on Feb 9, 1948 is a Fire Pig, and someone born on Feb 10, 1948 is an Earth Rat. Dates are in China Standard Time.
What Is an Earth Rat?
An Earth Rat combines the Rat with the element of the birth year. 1948 ends in 8, which gives Earth. The element repeats every 60 years, so other Earth Rat years include 2008.
How Old Is a 1948 Rat, and When Is the Next Rat Year?
Someone born in 1948 turns 78 in 2026 and 79 in 2027. The last Rat year was 1936, and the next is 1960. Your own sign year, called 本命年 (běnmìngnián), comes every 12 years. These are the Rat years a 1948 Rat lives through:
- 1948Earth RatBornThis page
- 1960 Chinese zodiacMetal RatTurns 12
- 1972 Chinese zodiacWater RatTurns 24
- 1984 Chinese zodiacWood RatTurns 36
- 1996 Chinese zodiacFire RatTurns 48
- 2008 Chinese zodiacEarth RatTurns 60 · full cycle (花甲)
- 2020 Chinese zodiacMetal RatTurns 72
- 2032Water RatTurns 84
1948 Rat Compatibility: Best and Hardest Matches
Compatibility follows the animal, not the element. Tradition favors the signs in the Rat's trine group and its Secret Friend, and is cautious about the opposite sign and the harm pair.
The 1948 Rat in 2026 and 2027
How the traditional rules link the Rat to the next two years, and how old a 1948 Rat will be.
2026, the Fire Horse Year: Needs Care
Turns 78. Link to the Horse: Clash (冲太岁).
2027, the Fire Goat Year: Needs Care
Turns 79. Link to the Goat: Harm (害太岁).
Nearby Years
The years just before and after 1948, and the other years of the decade.
- 1946 Chinese zodiacFire DogFeb 2, 1946 to Jan 21, 1947
- 1947 Chinese zodiacFire PigJan 22, 1947 to Feb 9, 1948
- 1948Earth RatFeb 10, 1948 to Jan 28, 1949
- 1949 Chinese zodiacEarth OxJan 29, 1949 to Feb 16, 1950
- 1950 Chinese zodiacMetal TigerFeb 17, 1950 to Feb 5, 1951
Want every year on one sheet? Download the Chinese zodiac years chart PDF (A4, 1900 to 2035, with Lunar New Year dates).
1946 Chinese zodiac1947 Chinese zodiac19481949 Chinese zodiacAll Chinese zodiac years
1948 Chinese Zodiac FAQ
What Chinese zodiac is 1948?
1948 is the Year of the Earth Rat. The Chinese year ran from Feb 10, 1948 to Jan 28, 1949.
What element is the 1948 Chinese zodiac?
Earth. A year's element follows its last digit: 8 gives Earth. The Rat's own fixed element is Water, which is a different thing.
What Chinese zodiac is January 1948?
Lunar New Year 1948 fell on Tuesday, Feb 10, 1948. Born from January 1 to Feb 9, 1948, you are a Fire Pig. From Feb 10, 1948, you are an Earth Rat.
How old is someone born in 1948?
In 2026 they turn 78, or are 77 before their birthday. In 2027 they turn 79. Chinese tradition often counts age differently, adding one year at birth.
When is the next Rat year after 1948?
1960, the Year of the Metal Rat, begins on Jan 28, 1960.