The Rat is the first of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. Small, quick and endlessly resourceful, it beat much bigger animals to the top spot with one clever move. In Chinese culture the Rat stands for wit, wealth and new beginnings.
In this guide you'll find the exact dates of every Rat year, what the Rat means in Chinese culture, the personality traits tradition gives it, its lucky signs and best matches, famous people born in Rat years, and the Mandarin you need to talk about it.
Key takeaways
- The next Year of the Rat runs from 11 February 2032 to 30 January 2033 (a Water Rat year).
- Rat years: 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020, 2032. Each starts on Chinese New Year, not 1 January.
- The Rat stands for intelligence, adaptability and wealth, and opens the 12-year cycle.
- Tradition describes Rats as quick-witted, resourceful and sociable, but also restless.
- Best matches: Ox, Dragon and Monkey. Classic clash: Horse.
When is the next Year of the Rat?
The most recent Rat year ran from 25 January 2020 to 11 February 2021. The next one starts on 11 February 2032 and ends on 30 January 2033.
Because the Chinese zodiac follows the lunar calendar, each animal's year begins on Chinese New Year, which falls somewhere between 21 January and 20 February. If you were born in January or early February, check the exact start date below. Racing driver Lewis Hamilton, born on 7 January 1985, is a Rat, not an Ox: the 1984 Rat year only ended on 19 February 1985.
Year of the Rat dates
Year | Starts | Ends | Element |
|---|---|---|---|
1924 | 5 Feb 1924 | 23 Jan 1925 | Wood Rat |
1936 | 24 Jan 1936 | 10 Feb 1937 | Fire Rat |
1948 | 10 Feb 1948 | 28 Jan 1949 | Earth Rat |
1960 | 28 Jan 1960 | 14 Feb 1961 | Metal Rat |
1972 | 15 Feb 1972 | 2 Feb 1973 | Water Rat |
1984 | 2 Feb 1984 | 19 Feb 1985 | Wood Rat |
1996 | 19 Feb 1996 | 6 Feb 1997 | Fire Rat |
2008 | 7 Feb 2008 | 25 Jan 2009 | Earth Rat |
2020 | 25 Jan 2020 | 11 Feb 2021 | Metal Rat |
2032 | 11 Feb 2032 | 30 Jan 2033 | Water Rat |
Each Rat year also carries one of the Five Elements (五行 wǔxíng): Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. The element changes every two years, so the same animal and element only meet again every 60 years. A Wood Rat (1984) and a Metal Rat (2020) share the Rat's core traits, but tradition says the element adds its own flavour: Wood brings warmth and creativity, Metal brings determination.
What does the Rat mean in Chinese culture?
鼠 shǔ · rat, mouse
The Rat won its place at the head of the zodiac in the Great Race organised by the Jade Emperor. The animals had to cross a wide river. The Rat couldn't swim well, so it asked the kind-hearted Ox for a ride, sat quietly on its head, and leapt to the bank just before the Ox arrived. First place went to brains, not size.
That story sums up how the Rat is seen in China: clever, practical and a survivor. In a farming society, rats were also a sign of plenty. A house with rats was a house with grain, and the Rat's large families made it a symbol of fertility and many descendants.
The Rat is linked to the first earthly branch, 子 zǐ, which also means "child" or "seed". It marks the start of every cycle: the first two-hour period of the Chinese day begins at 11 pm, and in the old calendar the Rat month contains the winter solstice, when the days start getting longer again.
There is even a folk tradition around Chinese New Year called 老鼠娶亲 lǎoshǔ qǔqīn, "the Rats' wedding". In some regions, families go to bed early on that night and leave out a little food, so the rats can celebrate undisturbed. It's a favourite subject of Chinese paper cuts and New Year prints.
Personality traits of people born in the Year of the Rat
In Chinese tradition, your zodiac animal is said to shape your character. Take it as cultural heritage rather than science: it's a fun way into Chinese culture, and a reliable conversation starter with Chinese speakers.
Strengths
Quick-witted. Rats think fast and spot solutions before anyone else has finished describing the problem.
Resourceful. Give a Rat limited means and it will still find a way. They're famous for making the most of what they have.
Sociable. Rats are good company, charming in conversation and usually have a wide network.
Thrifty. Tradition says Rats are careful with money and always keep something aside for harder times.
Adaptable. New city, new job, new language: Rats adjust quickly and rarely stay thrown for long.
Challenges
Restless. Rats get bored easily and can struggle to slow down or sit still.
Calculating. Their sharp mind for opportunity can come across as self-interested.
Tight with money. Thrift can tip into stinginess, especially when sharing is expected.
Critical. Rats notice flaws fast, and don't always keep that to themselves.
Anxious. Behind the confidence, many Rats worry about security and the future.
Rat quick facts
Position | 1st of 12 |
Earthly branch | 子 zǐ |
Hours of the Rat | 11 pm to 1 am |
Fixed element | Water |
Yin or yang | Yang |
Zodiac trio (三合 sānhé) | Rat, Dragon, Monkey |
The Rat's two hours, 子时 zǐshí, straddle midnight. That's why the old word for midnight is 子夜 zǐyè.
Lucky signs for the Rat
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 | 2, 3 (and numbers containing them, like 23 and 32) | 5, 9 |
Colours | Blue, gold, green | Yellow, brown |
Flowers | Lily, African violet | |
Directions | West, northwest, southwest | South, southeast |
Rat compatibility
Traditional compatibility comes from the position of each animal on the zodiac wheel. Two groupings are seen as harmonious: the four "trios" of animals four years apart (三合 sānhé), and six pairs of "secret friends" (六合 liùhé). Animals six years apart sit opposite each other and "clash" (六冲 liùchōng), and six other pairs are said to "harm" each other (六害 liùhài).
Sign | Why | |
|---|---|---|
Best match | Ox 牛 | Secret friends (六合). The Ox's patience steadies the restless Rat, and the Rat brings ideas to the Ox's hard work. |
Best match | Dragon 龙 | Same trio (三合). The Dragon's ambition and the Rat's cleverness make a strong team. |
Best match | Monkey 猴 | Same trio (三合). Two quick minds who enjoy the same jokes and schemes. |
Challenging | Horse 马 | Direct clash (六冲). The free-spirited Horse and the careful Rat pull in opposite directions. |
Challenging | Goat 羊 | Harm pair (六害). Different priorities and easily hurt feelings. |
None of this decides a relationship. In China, though, older relatives may still raise an eyebrow at a Rat and Horse couple.
Famous people born in the Year of the Rat
Name | Known for | Born |
|---|---|---|
Zendaya | Actor and singer | 1996 |
Tom Holland | Actor | 1996 |
Scarlett Johansson | Actor | 1984 |
Mark Zuckerberg | Founder of Facebook (Meta) | 1984 |
Lewis Hamilton | Formula 1 driver | 7 Jan 1985 |
Cristiano Ronaldo | Footballer | 5 Feb 1985 |
Notice the last two: both were born in 1985, which most charts list as an Ox year. They arrived before Chinese New Year on 20 February 1985, so they're Rats.
Useful Chinese vocabulary for the Year of the Rat
Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
鼠 | shǔ | rat, mouse (zodiac name) |
老鼠 | lǎoshǔ | rat, mouse (everyday word) |
鼠年 | shǔnián | Year of the Rat |
属鼠 (屬鼠) | shǔ shǔ | to be born in a Rat year |
鼠标 / 滑鼠 | shǔbiāo / huáshǔ | computer mouse (mainland / Taiwan) |
松鼠 | sōngshǔ | squirrel ("pine rat") |
袋鼠 | dàishǔ | kangaroo ("pouch rat") |
仓鼠 (倉鼠) | cāngshǔ | hamster ("storehouse rat") |
胆小如鼠 (膽小如鼠) | dǎn xiǎo rú shǔ | timid as a mouse |
鼠目寸光 | shǔ mù cùn guāng | short-sighted (eyes that see one inch) |
Example sentences
- 你属什么？我属鼠。 Nǐ shǔ shénme? Wǒ shǔ shǔ. What's your zodiac sign? I'm a Rat.
- 2032年是鼠年。 Èr líng sān èr nián shì shǔnián. 2032 is the Year of the Rat.
- 他胆小如鼠，晚上不敢一个人出门。 Tā dǎn xiǎo rú shǔ, wǎnshang bù gǎn yí ge rén chūmén. He's as timid as a mouse and doesn't dare go out alone at night.
"我属鼠" is a little tongue twister: 属 (to belong to) and 鼠 (rat) sound exactly the same, shǔ shǔ.
Taiwan note: in Taiwan the computer mouse is 滑鼠 huáshǔ, the "sliding mouse". In mainland China it's 鼠标 shǔbiāo, the "mouse marker". Same object, two words: a good example of the small vocabulary gaps between Taiwan and the mainland.
Frequently asked questions
Which years are Rat years? 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 and 2032. Each one starts on Chinese New Year.
When is the next Year of the Rat? From 11 February 2032 to 30 January 2033.
I was born in January 1985. Am I a Rat or an Ox? A Rat. The 1984 Rat year lasted until 19 February 1985, so anyone born before 20 February 1985 is a Rat.
What element is my Rat year? It depends on the year: Wood (1924, 1984), Fire (1936, 1996), Earth (1948, 2008), Metal (1960, 2020) and Water (1972, 2032).
What are the Rat's lucky numbers? 2 and 3, and numbers that contain them. 5 and 9 are considered unlucky.
What are the Rat's lucky colours? Blue, gold and green. Yellow and brown are best avoided.
Who is the Rat most compatible with? The Ox (secret friends), the Dragon and the Monkey (the same zodiac trio).
Which sign clashes with the Rat? The Horse, its opposite on the zodiac wheel.
How do you say "I'm a Rat" in Chinese? 我属鼠 wǒ shǔ shǔ. To ask someone's sign, say 你属什么？ nǐ shǔ shénme?
Why is the Rat first in the zodiac? In the legend of the Great Race, the Rat rode across the river on the Ox's back and jumped to the finish line first.