# Year of the Rat

> People born in the Year of the Rat include those born in 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 and 2032, counting from Lunar New Year rather than January 1. The next Year of the Rat is the Year of the Water Rat, from February 11, 2032 to January 30, 2033. The Rat is quick-witted, resourceful, observant and good with money.

Canonical page: https://www.selfgazer.com/chinese-zodiac/rat

## Years of the Rat, 1900 to 2100

| Year | Animal | Sexagenary | Starts | Ends |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1900 | Metal Rat | Geng Zi (庚子) | 1900-01-31 | 1901-02-18 |
| 1912 | Water Rat | Ren Zi (壬子) | 1912-02-18 | 1913-02-05 |
| 1924 | Wood Rat | Jia Zi (甲子) | 1924-02-05 | 1925-01-23 |
| 1936 | Fire Rat | Bing Zi (丙子) | 1936-01-24 | 1937-02-10 |
| 1948 | Earth Rat | Wu Zi (戊子) | 1948-02-10 | 1949-01-28 |
| 1960 | Metal Rat | Geng Zi (庚子) | 1960-01-28 | 1961-02-14 |
| 1972 | Water Rat | Ren Zi (壬子) | 1972-02-15 | 1973-02-02 |
| 1984 | Wood Rat | Jia Zi (甲子) | 1984-02-02 | 1985-02-19 |
| 1996 | Fire Rat | Bing Zi (丙子) | 1996-02-19 | 1997-02-06 |
| 2008 | Earth Rat | Wu Zi (戊子) | 2008-02-07 | 2009-01-25 |
| 2020 | Metal Rat | Geng Zi (庚子) | 2020-01-25 | 2021-02-11 |
| 2032 | Water Rat | Ren Zi (壬子) | 2032-02-11 | 2033-01-30 |
| 2044 | Wood Rat | Jia Zi (甲子) | 2044-01-30 | 2045-02-16 |
| 2056 | Fire Rat | Bing Zi (丙子) | 2056-02-15 | 2057-02-03 |
| 2068 | Earth Rat | Wu Zi (戊子) | 2068-02-03 | 2069-01-22 |
| 2080 | Metal Rat | Geng Zi (庚子) | 2080-01-22 | 2081-02-08 |
| 2092 | Water Rat | Ren Zi (壬子) | 2092-02-07 | 2093-01-26 |

## Compatibility

| Sign | Relationship |
| --- | --- |
| Ox | Six Harmonies (Liu He) |
| Tiger | Neutral |
| Rabbit | Punishment (Xing) |
| Dragon | Trine (San He) |
| Snake | Neutral |
| Horse | Clash (Liu Chong) |
| Goat | Harm (Liu Hai) |
| Monkey | Trine (San He) |
| Rooster | Break (Liu Po) |
| Dog | Neutral |
| Pig | Neutral |

## Questions

### What Years Are the Year of the Rat?

People born in the Year of the Rat include those born in 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 and 2032, counting from Lunar New Year rather than January 1. The next Year of the Rat is the Year of the Water Rat, from February 11, 2032 to January 30, 2033. The Rat is quick-witted, resourceful, observant and good with money.

### What Is the Rat Personality in the Chinese Zodiac?

The Rat opens the zodiac cycle. It is associated with sharp instincts, adaptability and a talent for spotting opportunity before anyone else does. At its best it is charming and inventive; under pressure it can turn anxious or calculating. Strengths: Adaptability, charm, thrift, quick problem-solving. Challenges: Restlessness, worry, a tendency to hoard or scheme.

### Who Is the Rat Most Compatible With?

The Rat's best matches are the Ox, Dragon and Monkey (Six Harmonies with the Ox, the Water trine with the Dragon and Monkey). Its classical clash is with the Horse.

### Is the Rat in Conflict With Tai Sui This Year?

In the current Year of the Fire Horse (February 17, 2026 to February 5, 2027), the Rat clashes with Tai Sui, so tradition counts it among the signs in conflict with Tai Sui this year.

### I Was Born in January or February. Am I a Rat?

Your Chinese zodiac animal changes at Lunar New Year, not on January 1. Lunar New Year falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice, between January 21 and February 20, so anyone born in January or early February may belong to the previous year's animal. BaZi (Four Pillars) charts use a second boundary, the solar term Li Chun (Start of Spring), on February 3, 4 or 5. Look up your exact birth date to see both.

## Method

Dates are computed astronomically, following the rules of the modern Chinese calendar (GB/T 33661-2017): days in China Standard Time (UTC+8), months starting on the day of the new moon, the winter solstice always in the eleventh month, and leap months placed in the first month without a principal solar term. Solar terms are the moments the Sun reaches each 15 degree point of its path, computed with the Astronomy Engine library. Years before 1929 used Beijing local time, so a handful of historical dates can differ by one day from older almanacs.

Source: [Selfgazer](https://www.selfgazer.com/chinese-zodiac/rat). Free to cite with a link to the source page.