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Year of the Rat: Personality, Years, Elements and Compatibility
Quick answer: the Rat (鼠, Earthly Branch 子) is sign 1 of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals. Recent Rat years are 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020, and the next is 2032. Rats are known for being quick-witted and resourceful. Best matches: Dragon, Monkey and Ox.
The Rat opens the zodiac. In the legend of the Great Race it reached the finish first by riding on the Ox's back and jumping ahead at the last moment, and that story sums up the sign: clever, quick and always alert to an opening.
Your year animal is one of eight characters in your birth chart. See your full Four Pillars and Day Master, free.
Get your free reading性格Rat personality
| Strengths | Watch out for |
|---|---|
| Quick-witted and resourceful | Can worry or overthink |
| Sociable and easy to talk to | May keep score in relationships |
| Good with money and planning ahead | Restless when life feels stuck |
| Adaptable when plans change |
In love. Rats are attentive, generous partners once they feel secure. They show love through practical care, remembering details and planning for the future together, and they need a partner who keeps conversation lively.
At work. Rats shine where speed and judgment matter: trading, sales, research, writing, startups and any role that rewards spotting opportunities early.
年份Year of the Rat: every year and exact dates
Each Rat year starts on Chinese New Year and ends the day before the next one. Born in January or early February? Check the dates below, or use the Chinese zodiac calculator.
| Year | Type | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| 1924 | Wood Rat (甲子) | Feb 5, 1924 – Jan 23, 1925 |
| 1936 | Fire Rat (丙子) | Jan 24, 1936 – Feb 10, 1937 |
| 1948 | Earth Rat (戊子) | Feb 10, 1948 – Jan 28, 1949 |
| 1960 | Metal Rat (庚子) | Jan 28, 1960 – Feb 14, 1961 |
| 1972 | Water Rat (壬子) | Feb 15, 1972 – Feb 2, 1973 |
| 1984 | Wood Rat (甲子) | Feb 2, 1984 – Feb 19, 1985 |
| 1996 | Fire Rat (丙子) | Feb 19, 1996 – Feb 6, 1997 |
| 2008 | Earth Rat (戊子) | Feb 7, 2008 – Jan 25, 2009 |
| 2020 | Metal Rat (庚子) | Jan 25, 2020 – Feb 11, 2021 |
| 2032 | Water Rat (壬子) | Feb 11, 2032 – Jan 30, 2033 |
五行The five types of Rat
The Rat comes back every 12 years, but with a different element each time, so the same element and animal repeat every 60 years. The element shades the personality:
Wood Rat: 1924, 1984
Wood adds warmth, growth and a cooperative streak, so the Rat of a Wood year tends to be generous, idealistic and good with people.
Fire Rat: 1936, 1996
Fire adds passion and drive, so the Rat of a Fire year tends to be bolder, more expressive and quicker to act than other Rats.
Earth Rat: 1948, 2008
Earth adds stability and realism, so the Rat of an Earth year tends to be steadier, more practical and more patient than other Rats.
Metal Rat: 1960, 2020
Metal adds determination and strength of will, so the Rat of a Metal year tends to be focused, principled and hard to discourage.
Water Rat: 1972, 2032
Water adds intuition and flexibility, so the Rat of a Water year tends to be perceptive, diplomatic and good at adapting.
See the Chinese zodiac elements table for every year.
合婚Rat compatibility with all 12 signs
| Pair | Type | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 鼠 Rat & Rat | Same Sign | ★★★★ (4/5) |
| 牛 Rat & Ox | Secret Friends (Six Harmony) | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| 虎 Rat & Tiger | Neutral Match | ★★★½ (3.5/5) |
| 兔 Rat & Rabbit | Punishment Pattern | ★★½ (2.5/5) |
| 龙 Rat & Dragon | Natural Allies (Water Trine) | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| 蛇 Rat & Snake | Neutral Match | ★★★ (3/5) |
| 马 Rat & Horse | Opposites (Clash) | ★½ (1.5/5) |
| 羊 Rat & Goat | Harm Pair | ★★ (2/5) |
| 猴 Rat & Monkey | Natural Allies (Water Trine) | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| 鸡 Rat & Rooster | Neutral Match | ★★★½ (3.5/5) |
| 狗 Rat & Dog | Neutral Match | ★★★ (3/5) |
| 猪 Rat & Pig | Neutral Match | ★★★½ (3.5/5) |
Ratings follow classical relationships between the Earthly Branches: trine and Six Harmony pairs are the best matches, the clash sign is the most challenging. See the full compatibility chart.
地支The Rat in BaZi: Earthly Branch 子
| Earthly Branch | 子 (Zi) |
|---|---|
| Fixed element · polarity | Water · Yang |
| Hour | 11 pm – 1 am |
| Solar month | about Dec 7 – Jan 5 |
| Direction · season | North · mid-winter |
| Hidden stems | 癸 Gui Water |
In a BaZi chart the Rat can appear in any of the four pillars: the year (your generation), the month, the day or the hour. The hidden stems are the elements stored inside the branch, which is why two people with the same year animal can have very different charts.
流年The Rat in 2027
2027 is the Year of the Fire Goat. For the Rat: Harm pair with the Goat (子未相害). A year to say exactly what you mean. Read the Year of the Rat 2027 forecast.
问答Questions about the Year of the Rat
What years are the Year of the Rat?
Recent Rat years are 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020. The next Year of the Rat is 2032, starting February 11, 2032. Each year begins at Chinese New Year, so people born in January or early February may belong to the previous sign.
What is the Rat's personality?
Rats are known for being quick-witted and resourceful, sociable and easy to talk to and good with money and planning ahead. Their weak spots: can worry or overthink; may keep score in relationships; restless when life feels stuck.
Who is the Rat most compatible with?
The Rat's best matches are the Dragon and Monkey (its trine) and the Ox (its secret friend). The most challenging match is the Horse, the sign directly opposite.
What element is the Rat?
The Rat's fixed element is Water and it is a Yang sign. Each Rat year also has its own element from the Heavenly Stem, so there are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water Rats.
What time of day is the Rat?
The Rat rules the double hour from 11 pm – 1 am. In a BaZi chart, people born in that window have the Rat in their hour pillar.
See which element balances your chart and what your Day Master says about you. Free reading.
Get your free readingRat · Ox · Tiger · Rabbit · Dragon · Snake · Horse · Goat · Monkey · Rooster · Dog · Pig