2008 Chinese Zodiac: Year of the Earth Rat
戊子 · 鼠 Shǔ
2008 is the Year of the Earth Rat. The Chinese year ran from Feb 7, 2008 to Jan 25, 2009, so anyone born in that span is an Earth Rat. Born in January or early February? Lunar New Year fell on Feb 7, 2008, and earlier births belong to the Fire Pig year.
- Rat
- Earth
- Yang
Born in 2008?
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.
2008 at a Glance
- Animal
- Rat 鼠 shǔ
- Element
- Earth
- Yin or Yang
- Yang
- Year name
- 戊子 · sound element 霹雳火
- Begins
- Thursday, Feb 7, 2008
- Ends
- Jan 25, 2009
- Age in 2026
- 17 or 18
- Next Rat year
- 2020
The 2008 Earth Rat Comes of Age
Kids born in 2008 turn 18 in 2026. Their Chinese year began on Feb 7, 2008; births from January 1 to Feb 6, 2008 are Fire Pigs from 2007.
This was the Rat year in which Beijing hosted the Summer Olympics, opening on August 8, 2008, a date picked because eight is a lucky number in Chinese tradition. The Rat is the first of the twelve animals, so a 2008 Rat starts the round that runs to the 2019 Pig.
Born in January or Early February 2008?
The Chinese year does not start on January 1. Lunar New Year 2008 was on Thursday, Feb 7, 2008, so births before that date belong to the year before.
| Born | Sign | Year name |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 to Feb 6, 2008 | Fire Pig | 丁亥 |
| Feb 7, 2008 to Jan 25, 2009 | Earth Rat | 戊子 |
So someone born on Feb 6, 2008 is a Fire Pig, and someone born on Feb 7, 2008 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. 2008 ends in 8, which gives Earth. The element repeats every 60 years, so other Earth Rat years include 1948.
How Old Is a 2008 Rat, and When Is the Next Rat Year?
Someone born in 2008 turns 18 in 2026 and 19 in 2027. The last Rat year was 1996, and the next is 2020. Your own sign year, called 本命年 (běnmìngnián), comes every 12 years. These are the Rat years a 2008 Rat lives through:
- 2008Earth RatBornThis page
- 2020 Chinese zodiacMetal RatTurns 12
- 2032Water RatTurns 24
2008 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 2008 Rat in 2026 and 2027
How the traditional rules link the Rat to the next two years, and how old a 2008 Rat will be.
2026, the Fire Horse Year: Needs Care
Turns 18. Link to the Horse: Clash (冲太岁).
2027, the Fire Goat Year: Needs Care
Turns 19. Link to the Goat: Harm (害太岁).
Nearby Years
The years just before and after 2008, and the other years of the decade.
- 2006 Chinese zodiacFire DogJan 29, 2006 to Feb 17, 2007
- 2007 Chinese zodiacFire PigFeb 18, 2007 to Feb 6, 2008
- 2008Earth RatFeb 7, 2008 to Jan 25, 2009
- 2009 Chinese zodiacEarth OxJan 26, 2009 to Feb 13, 2010
- 2010 Chinese zodiacMetal TigerFeb 14, 2010 to Feb 2, 2011
Want every year on one sheet? Download the Chinese zodiac years chart PDF (A4, 1900 to 2035, with Lunar New Year dates).
2000 Chinese zodiac2001 Chinese zodiac2002 Chinese zodiac2003 Chinese zodiac2004 Chinese zodiac2005 Chinese zodiac2006 Chinese zodiac2007 Chinese zodiac20082009 Chinese zodiacAll Chinese zodiac years
2008 Chinese Zodiac FAQ
What Chinese zodiac is 2008?
2008 is the Year of the Earth Rat. The Chinese year ran from Feb 7, 2008 to Jan 25, 2009.
What element is the 2008 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 2008?
Lunar New Year 2008 fell on Thursday, Feb 7, 2008. Born from January 1 to Feb 6, 2008, you are a Fire Pig. From Feb 7, 2008, you are an Earth Rat.
How old is someone born in 2008?
In 2026 they turn 18, or are 17 before their birthday. In 2027 they turn 19. Chinese tradition often counts age differently, adding one year at birth.
When is the next Rat year after 2008?
2020, the Year of the Metal Rat, begins on Jan 25, 2020.