The Rabbit is the fourth animal of the Chinese zodiac. Gentle and graceful, it's the sign of peace, good taste and quiet intelligence. It also has the most romantic address in Chinese mythology: the moon.
In this guide you'll find the exact dates of every Rabbit year, what the Rabbit means in Chinese culture, the personality traits tradition gives it, its lucky signs and best matches, famous people born in Rabbit years, and the Mandarin you need to talk about it.
Key takeaways
- The next Year of the Rabbit runs from 8 February 2035 to 27 January 2036 (a Wood Rabbit year).
- Rabbit years: 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023, 2035. Each starts on Chinese New Year.
- The Rabbit stands for kindness, elegance, longevity and peace.
- Tradition describes Rabbits as gentle, diplomatic and thoughtful, but also overly cautious.
- Best matches: Dog, Goat and Pig. Classic clash: Rooster.
When is the next Year of the Rabbit?
The most recent Rabbit year ran from 22 January 2023 to 9 February 2024. The next one starts on 8 February 2035 and ends on 27 January 2036.
The zodiac year starts on Chinese New Year, which moves between 21 January and 20 February. Born in January or early February? Check the start date below. A baby born on 1 February 2024 is a Rabbit, not a Dragon: the 2023 Rabbit year lasted until 9 February 2024.
Year of the Rabbit dates
Year | Starts | Ends | Element |
|---|---|---|---|
1927 | 2 Feb 1927 | 22 Jan 1928 | Fire Rabbit |
1939 | 19 Feb 1939 | 7 Feb 1940 | Earth Rabbit |
1951 | 6 Feb 1951 | 26 Jan 1952 | Metal Rabbit |
1963 | 25 Jan 1963 | 12 Feb 1964 | Water Rabbit |
1975 | 11 Feb 1975 | 30 Jan 1976 | Wood Rabbit |
1987 | 29 Jan 1987 | 16 Feb 1988 | Fire Rabbit |
1999 | 16 Feb 1999 | 4 Feb 2000 | Earth Rabbit |
2011 | 3 Feb 2011 | 22 Jan 2012 | Metal Rabbit |
2023 | 22 Jan 2023 | 9 Feb 2024 | Water Rabbit |
2035 | 8 Feb 2035 | 27 Jan 2036 | Wood Rabbit |
Each Rabbit year also carries one of the Five Elements (五行 wǔxíng), which change every two years. The Rabbit's own natural element is Wood, which links it to spring, growth and gentleness.
What does the Rabbit mean in Chinese culture?
兔 tù · rabbit, hare
In the Great Race, the Rabbit couldn't swim. It hopped across the river from stone to stone, slipped, and finished the crossing on a floating log, arriving fourth. Not the strongest animal, but a smart one about finding the route.
The Rabbit's most famous home is the moon. Chinese legend says a Jade Rabbit (玉兔 yùtù) lives there with the goddess Chang'e, pounding the elixir of immortality with a mortar and pestle. Look at the full moon and many Chinese speakers will point out the rabbit in its shadows. That's also why China named its first lunar rover 玉兔.
At Mid-Autumn Festival, the rabbit is everywhere: on mooncake boxes, lanterns and children's toys. In Beijing, the festival even has its own rabbit mascot, 兔儿爷 Tù'éryé, "Lord Rabbit", a clay figure in armour riding a tiger or a deer.
Because of the moon legend, the rabbit is linked to longevity, and its gentle nature makes it a symbol of peace and good fortune. Fun fact for travellers: Vietnam's zodiac replaces the Rabbit with the Cat.
Personality traits of people born in the Year of the Rabbit
In Chinese tradition, your zodiac animal is said to shape your character. It's cultural heritage rather than science, but a lovely way into Chinese culture.
Strengths
Gentle. Rabbits are kind, soft-spoken and easy to be around.
Elegant. They have good taste and care about beauty, comfort and details.
Diplomatic. Rabbits know how to calm a tense room and find a compromise.
Considerate. They remember what matters to people and act on it.
Observant. A Rabbit quietly notices more than it lets on.
Challenges
Overly cautious. Rabbits can miss opportunities because they wait for the perfect moment.
Conflict-avoidant. They'd rather keep the peace than have a hard but necessary conversation.
Indecisive. Seeing every side makes it hard to pick one.
Sensitive. Criticism can hurt a Rabbit more than it shows.
Needs reassurance. Rabbits feel safest with stability and can worry when things change.
Rabbit quick facts
Position | 4th of 12 |
Earthly branch | 卯 mǎo |
Hours of the Rabbit | 5 am to 7 am |
Fixed element | Wood |
Yin or yang | Yin |
Zodiac trio (三合 sānhé) | Rabbit, Goat, Pig |
In imperial China, officials reported for roll call at the hour of 卯. That roll call was 点卯 diǎnmǎo, a word still used today for showing up just to be seen.
Lucky signs for the Rabbit
These are folk beliefs, not science, and sources don't always agree. We use the list published by China Highlights for all twelve animals, so the guides stay consistent.
Lucky | Unlucky | |
|---|---|---|
Numbers | 3, 4, 6 (and numbers containing them, like 34 and 46) | 1, 7, 8 |
Colours | Red, pink, purple, blue | Dark brown, dark yellow, white |
Flowers | Plantain lily, jasmine | |
Directions | East, south, northwest | North, west, southwest |
Rabbit compatibility
Traditional compatibility comes from each animal's position on the zodiac wheel: trios four years apart (三合 sānhé) and pairs of "secret friends" (六合 liùhé) get along; opposites six years apart clash (六冲 liùchōng), and six pairs "harm" each other (六害 liùhài).
Sign | Why | |
|---|---|---|
Best match | Dog 狗 | Secret friends (六合). The loyal Dog makes the Rabbit feel safe, and the Rabbit softens the Dog's worries. |
Best match | Goat 羊 | Same trio (三合). Two gentle, creative signs who enjoy a calm, beautiful home. |
Best match | Pig 猪 | Same trio (三合). Warm, generous and drama-free together. |
Challenging | Rooster 鸡 | Direct clash (六冲). The blunt Rooster's criticism wounds the sensitive Rabbit. |
Challenging | Dragon 龙 | Harm pair (六害). The Dragon's big energy overwhelms the quieter Rabbit. |
Zodiac compatibility is tradition, not a rule. Treat it as a fun conversation topic rather than relationship advice.
Famous people born in the Year of the Rabbit
Name | Known for | Born |
|---|---|---|
Jet Li 李连杰 | Martial artist and actor | 1963 |
Brad Pitt | Actor | 1963 |
Angelina Jolie | Actor and director | 1975 |
David Beckham | Footballer | 1975 |
Lionel Messi | Footballer | 1987 |
Liu Yifei 刘亦菲 | Actor (Mulan, 2020) | 1987 |
Useful Chinese vocabulary for the Year of the Rabbit
Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
兔 | tù | rabbit (zodiac name) |
兔子 | tùzi | rabbit, bunny (everyday word) |
兔年 | tùnián | Year of the Rabbit |
属兔 (屬兔) | shǔ tù | to be born in a Rabbit year |
玉兔 | yùtù | the Jade Rabbit on the moon |
小白兔 | xiǎo báitù | little white bunny; also a naive, innocent person |
兔儿爷 (兔兒爺) | Tù'éryé | "Lord Rabbit", Beijing's Mid-Autumn figure |
守株待兔 | shǒu zhū dài tù | guard the tree stump, wait for a rabbit: waiting for luck instead of working |
狡兔三窟 | jiǎo tù sān kū | a clever rabbit has three burrows: always have a plan B |
兔子不吃窝边草 (兔子不吃窩邊草) | tùzi bù chī wō biān cǎo | a rabbit doesn't eat the grass by its burrow: don't make trouble close to home |
Example sentences
- 我女儿是2023年出生的，她属兔。 Wǒ nǚ'ér shì èr líng èr sān nián chūshēng de, tā shǔ tù. My daughter was born in 2023, so she's a Rabbit.
- 中秋节的时候，你能在月亮上看到玉兔吗？ Zhōngqiū Jié de shíhou, nǐ néng zài yuèliang shang kàndào yùtù ma? Can you see the Jade Rabbit on the moon at Mid-Autumn Festival?
- 学中文不能守株待兔，要每天练习。 Xué Zhōngwén bù néng shǒu zhū dài tù, yào měitiān liànxí. You can't learn Chinese by waiting for luck, you have to practise every day.
守株待兔 comes from an old story: a farmer saw a rabbit run into a tree stump and die. He stopped working his fields and waited by the stump for another one. It never came, and his crops failed.
Taiwan note: at Mid-Autumn Festival, Taiwan's real tradition is barbecue. Families grill on the pavement, in parks and on rooftops all evening. The Jade Rabbit still shows up on every mooncake and pomelo gift box, though.
Frequently asked questions
Which years are Rabbit years? 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023 and 2035. Each one starts on Chinese New Year.
When is the next Year of the Rabbit? From 8 February 2035 to 27 January 2036.
I was born on 1 February 1999. Am I a Rabbit? No, you're a Tiger. The 1998 Tiger year ran until 15 February 1999.
What element is my Rabbit year? Fire (1927, 1987), Earth (1939, 1999), Metal (1951, 2011), Water (1963, 2023) or Wood (1975, 2035).
What are the Rabbit's lucky numbers? 3, 4 and 6, and numbers containing them. 1, 7 and 8 are seen as unlucky.
What are the Rabbit's lucky colours? Red, pink, purple and blue. Dark brown, dark yellow and white are best avoided.
Who is the Rabbit most compatible with? The Dog (secret friends), the Goat and the Pig (the same trio).
Which sign clashes with the Rabbit? The Rooster, its opposite on the zodiac wheel.
How do you say "I'm a Rabbit" in Chinese? 我属兔 wǒ shǔ tù.
Is it the Year of the Rabbit or the Hare? In Chinese, 兔 covers both, so either translation works. Vietnam is the exception: its zodiac uses the Cat instead.