Year of the Rat
鼠 Shǔ
The Rat is the first animal of the Chinese zodiac and the sign of cleverness. In Chinese tradition, people born in a Rat year are seen as quick-witted, resourceful and charming, good at spotting an opportunity and at adapting when plans change.
- quick-witted
- resourceful
- charming
- adaptable
- thrifty
- watchful
Are You a Rat?
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.
Rat at a Glance
- Order
- 1st of 12
- Chinese
- 鼠 shǔ, branch 子 zǐ
- Yin or Yang
- Yang
- Own element
- Water
- Best matches
- Dragon, Monkey, Ox
- Clashes with
- Horse
- Recent years
- 1996, 2008, 2020
- Next Rat year
- 2032, from Feb 11, 2032
Rat Zodiac Years
A Rat year comes every 12 years and begins on Lunar New Year, between January 21 and February 20. Born in January or early February? Compare your birthday with the start date. If it came first, you belong to the sign before: the Pig.
- 1900Metal RatJan 31, 1900 to Feb 18, 1901
- 1912Water RatFeb 18, 1912 to Feb 5, 1913
- 1924Wood RatFeb 5, 1924 to Jan 23, 1925
- 1936Fire RatJan 24, 1936 to Feb 10, 1937
- 1948 Chinese zodiacEarth RatFeb 10, 1948 to Jan 28, 1949
- 1960 Chinese zodiacMetal RatJan 28, 1960 to Feb 14, 1961
- 1972 Chinese zodiacWater RatFeb 15, 1972 to Feb 2, 1973
- 1984 Chinese zodiacWood RatFeb 2, 1984 to Feb 19, 1985
- 1996 Chinese zodiacFire RatFeb 19, 1996 to Feb 6, 1997
- 2008 Chinese zodiacEarth RatFeb 7, 2008 to Jan 25, 2009
- 2020 Chinese zodiacMetal RatJan 25, 2020 to Feb 11, 2021
- 2032Water RatFeb 11, 2032 to Jan 30, 2033Next
Rat Zodiac Personality and Traits
In Chinese tradition the Rat is quick-witted, resourceful and charming. Rats notice what others miss, adapt fast and rarely get caught without a plan. The same alertness can turn into worry and a habit of holding on too tightly.
Strengths
- Resourcefulness. Finds a way when the obvious route is closed.
- Charm. Easy company, with a gift for putting people at ease.
- Adaptability. Settles into new settings and new people quickly.
- Thrift. Careful with money and good at saving.
- Quick mind. Sees opportunities early.
Weaknesses
- Worry. Plays out every possible problem in advance.
- Stinginess. Thrift can tip into holding back.
- Calculation. Can weigh every favor and every cost.
- Restlessness. Keeps looking for the next opening.
- A sharp tongue. Quick wit can cut.
The Rat Man and the Rat Woman
These are sketches from tradition, not rules.
The Rat Man
The Rat man is pictured as charming, curious and always one step ahead. He likes to know how things work and who knows what. His lesson is to trust people before he has checked them all.
The Rat Woman
The Rat woman is described as sociable, bright and resourceful. She is careful with money and with her feelings, and loyal to those who earn her trust. She does best with a partner who is open with her.
Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water Rats
The last digit of your birth year sets your element, which is different from the Rat’s own element (always Water). Born in January or early February? If your birthday came before Lunar New Year, use the year before. The cycle repeats every 60 years.
Wood Rat
Years ending in 4 or 51924, 1984
Wood makes the Rat more outgoing. Said to be imaginative and generous with ideas, a Rat that builds networks and works well with others.
Fire Rat
Years ending in 6 or 71936, 1996
Fire makes the Rat bolder and more outspoken. Energetic and restless, the Fire Rat is pictured as the most daring of the five, and the one most likely to take a risk.
Earth Rat
Years ending in 8 or 91948, 2008
Earth steadies the Rat. Practical and careful with money, the Earth Rat prefers a solid plan and a safe margin to a clever shortcut.
Metal Rat
Years ending in 0 or 11900, 1960, 2020
Metal sharpens the Rat. Determined and disciplined, the Metal Rat is described as the most focused of the five, with a clear eye on a goal.
Water Rat
Years ending in 2 or 31912, 1972, 2032
Water is the Rat’s own element. The Water Rat is said to be the most intuitive and adaptable of the five, and the best at sensing what others want.
Rat Compatibility: Best and Worst Matches
Tradition gives the Rat three best matches: the Dragon and Monkey, its trine group, and the Ox, its Secret Friend. The hardest are the Horse, directly opposite on the zodiac wheel, and the Goat, a harm pair. These come from fixed rules, not opinion.
Best Matches
- DragonSame trine group 三合Rat and Dragon compatibility
- MonkeySame trine group 三合
- OxSecret Friend 六合Rat and Ox compatibility
Hardest Matches
- HorseOpposite sign (clash) 六冲Rat and Horse compatibility
- GoatHarm pair 六害Rat and Goat compatibility
Dragon and Monkey
Same trine group. The Dragon brings ambition and the Monkey brings wit, and both match the Rat’s quick, inventive pace.
Ox
The Rat’s Secret Friend, a traditional natural ally. The Ox’s patience and steadiness balance the Rat’s busy mind.
Horse
Opposite the Rat on the wheel, a clash. The Horse spends freely and moves fast while the Rat saves and plans, so priorities often collide.
Goat
A harm pair. The Goat’s gentle, easygoing style can feel vague to the Rat, who wants a plan, and each can wear on the other.
The Rat in 2026 and 2027
For the full forecast, see the Rat horoscope for 2027 and the 2027 Year of the Goat.
2026, the Fire Horse Year
The Horse is the Rat’s clash sign, and tradition reads a clash year as one to move carefully in. Big changes are best planned slowly, and patient groundwork pays off.
2027, the Fire Goat Year
The Goat forms a harm pair with the Rat. Tradition reads 2027 as a year to be tactful with others, especially in close partnerships.
The Rat in Chinese Culture: Meaning and Symbols
The Rat is first in the zodiac because of the Great Race, the legend that set the order of the 12 animals. In a popular version the Rat rode on the Ox’s back and, near the far bank, jumped off and ran ahead to finish first.
Midnight and the Start of the Cycle
The Rat’s earthly branch, 子 (zǐ), is the first of the 12. It marks the eleventh month of the traditional solar calendar, which starts around December 7, and the hours from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Cleverness and Abundance
In folk tradition the rat stands for cleverness and resourcefulness. It is also linked with abundance, since rats store grain and multiply quickly.
The Rat’s Wedding
A New Year folk tale tells of rats holding a wedding on a night of the new year. In some regions, families go to bed early on that night so the rats can celebrate in peace.
More Than a Pest
Chinese idioms can be unflattering about rats, but the zodiac Rat is clever, quick and first in line.
Rat Career, Money and Health
Traditional advice for the Rat is the same in every area: use the quick mind, and loosen the grip a little.
Career
Rats do best in work that rewards quick thinking and resourcefulness: business, trade, writing, teaching and technology. Slow, rigid hierarchies are harder.
Money
Tradition credits the Rat with a sharp eye for a bargain and a habit of saving. The useful limit is to keep caution from stopping you spending on the things that matter.
Health
Rats are described as lively but prone to worry. Tradition links the Rat’s Water element with the kidneys and with nervous energy. That is cultural symbolism, not medical advice. Regular sleep and time off the clock help most.
Rat Zodiac FAQ
What years are the Year of the Rat?
Rat years include 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 and 2032. The next one starts on Feb 11, 2032. Each Rat year begins on Lunar New Year, so check the exact dates if you were born in January or February.
I was born in January 2020. Am I a Rat?
It depends on the day. Lunar New Year 2020 fell on January 25, so births from January 1 to 24 belong to the Pig year that began in 2019. From January 25, 2020 on, you are a Rat.
Why is the Rat first in the Chinese zodiac?
Because of the Great Race, the legend that set the order of the animals. In a popular version the Rat rode on the Ox's back and jumped off near the finish to cross the line first.
What is the Rat's enemy sign?
The Horse. It sits opposite the Rat on the zodiac wheel, a pairing tradition calls a clash. The Goat is the other hard match, a harm pair. Both point to friction in style, not a ban on friendship or marriage.
Who should a Rat marry?
Tradition favors the Ox, Dragon and Monkey. The Dragon and Monkey share the Rat's trine group, and the Ox is its Secret Friend. The Horse and Goat are harder. Real couples depend more on the two people than on their signs.
Is 2026 a good year for the Rat?
Tradition reads it as a year for care. The Horse is the Rat's clash sign, so big changes are best planned slowly. It favors patient groundwork over sudden moves.