Year of the Rat

Rat is the first in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac. The Years of the Rat include 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020, 2032...

An interesting Chinese legend about the ranking of the Rat goes that the Chinese supreme deity Jade Emperor held a birthday party and would decide the order of the zodiac animals according to their arrival times. Originally, the hardworking Ox departed early and should be the first one to reach. However, the Rat hid in the Ox’s ear and jumped down when arriving, occupying the first place. Thus the Rat had since been the No. 1 in the 12-year cycle and represents spirit, wit, alertness, delicacy, and flexibility.

What’s more, the vitality of the Rat including the high fertility and high survival rate also makes it a lucky sign for couples hoping to conceive.

Earthly Branch of Birth Year: Zi
Wu Xing (The Five Elements): Shui (Water)
Yin Yang: Yang

Video of Chinese Zodiac Rat

Below is an interesting legend telling how the little and tiny Rat achieved to be the first Chinese zodiac sign.

Years of the Rat

The following chart will tell you if you were born the Year of the Rat and people should pay attention to the start and end dates as the Chinese zodiac is based on the Chinese lunar calendar.

A more simple way is to fill in your birthday in “Find your Chinese Zodiac” to get a quick and accurate answer.

Rat Year	Start	End	Element
1924	Feb.5,1924	Jan.23,1925	Wood
1936	Jan.24,1936	Feb.10,1937	Fire
1948	Feb.10,1948	Jan.28,1949	Earth
1960	Jan.28,1960	Feb.14,1961	Metal
1972	Feb.15,1972	Feb.2,1973	Water
1984	Feb.2,1984	Feb.19,1985	Wood
1996	Feb.19,1996	Feb.6,1997	Fire
2008	Feb.6,2008	Jan.25,2009	Earth
2020	Jan.25,2020	Feb.11,2021	Metal
2032	Feb.11,2032	Jan.30,2033	Water

Lucky Signs for People Born in Rat Year

Lucky Things for Rats:

Lucky Numbers: 2, 3 Lucky Colors: gold, blue, green Lucky Flowers: lily, African violet, lily of the valley Lucky Directions: southeast, northeast

Things Should be Avoided:

Unlucky Numbers: 5, 9 Unlucky Colors: yellow, brown Unlucky Direction: west

Personality: Rats are smart, quick-witted, strong-willed, and ambitious.

People who were born in the Year of the Rat are always called Rats whose characteristics tend to be more quick-witted with a keen observation and foresight. Rats also have a bright and optimistic personality which makes them adapt to changes in any environment and easily get help from others. However, though Rats are ambitious in career, they may not be qualified to become great leaders due to the stubbornness and the lack of empathy and humility.

Strengths
Savvy, quick-witted, positive, intelligent, bright, versatile
Weaknesses
Lack of courage, captious, undetermined, stubborn
Rat Men: Rat men can think quickly and have a good memory. They are curious about everything, get to the bottom of things, and have a strong thirst for knowledge. Meanwhile, they hold on to their own views but seldom have the courage to take action. Men with Chinese zodiac Rat sign also attach importance to the family.
Rat Women: Rat women are smart and sensible in the life, taking a cue from somebody’s words or facial expressions. They also take a good advantage of their strengths and avoid showing weaknesses. All of those make them considerate and their families could be taken care of. However, they may lack the ability to cope with stress.
Personality by Five Elements: Which Type of 'Rat' Are You?
People born in different years of Rat show varied personal characters because the traditional Chinese Five Elements (Wu Xing) will affect the personality.

Types	Years of Birth	Personality Traits
Wood Rat	1924, 1984	Independent, traditional, enjoying great popularity but a bit pessimistic.
Fire Rat	1936, 1996	Energetic, brave, self-disciplined, sometimes sharp and harsh.
Earth Rat	1948, 2008	Honest, hardworking, having strong adaptability, of high self-esteem.
Metal Rat	1960, 2020	Persuasive, irritable, sensitive with strong self-awareness, like to be the center of attention.
Water Rat	1912, 1972	Alert, intelligent with good thinking, but conservative in practice.

Rat’s Personality by Blood Types
• Blood Type O: With outgoing and optimistic character, they are extroverts ready to help others. Good communication skills make them have fewer conflicts with others and popular among friends.
• Blood Type A: They are typical submissive people, always keeping themselves in the second place but putting others first. They are empathetic, perceptive, and quick-witted but not assertive enough to capture opportunities.
• Blood Type B: Having an unsociable personality, they are straightforward in expression and tired of using a euphemism. However, they are easy to trust others so that they suffer losses.
• Blood Type AB: Rats with blood type AB look gentle and generous outwardly but sometimes they are arbitrary and indifferent. The high efficiency at work makes them deeply valued by bosses.

Love Compatibility of the Rat

Want to know the love compatibility between you and your partner quickly? Just check it on the “Chinese Zodiac Compatibility Test” according to the names and dates of birth.

Best Matches: Ox, Dragon, Monkey
Ox is the most faithful partner for the Rat and they can build a romantic relationship together. Rat’ straightforwardness and confidence will attract Dragons and they can find more fun in life and help each other at work. Monkey will also be a great partner and the couple of Rat and Monkey can not only support each other but also be tolerant of each other’s shortcomings.
Bad Matches: Horse, Rooster
Both the Rat and the Horse are independent and proactive but it is hard for them to understand and communicate with each other. The Rat people cannot stand the picky from a Rooster partner and they may have a lot of conflicts.
How to Get along with Rats

People with Chinese zodiac Rat sign are emulative in a relationship and they want to find a capable and excellent partner, especially in the career. If you think they are money-oriented, then you are wrong. They don’t care too much about money or outward appearance. What matters for them is about inner feelings and the chemistry. Though Rats look flirtatious, they are honest and faithful once they choose to build a relationship and hope so are their partners.

Jobs & Careers for Rats

Best Jobs: Artist, musician, cafe owner, actor, author, photographer, doctor, teacher...

Rats are active and independent. Unrestricted work and freelance work are more suitable for them, instead of being a staff of a large company. They also prefer individual work with innovation to the cooperative work, enabling them to become a good café owner, an author, or a doctor. What’s more, most people born in the Rat Year are intuitive-sensitive with a talent in art and have a profound understanding of life. So the artist, musician, photographer, and actor all are listed on their best jobs.

Health & Fitness Advice

People born in the Year of the Rat always have a lower immunity since childhood as the immune system isn't up to par. They often catch colds and suffer some small diseases, but luckily, no big illnesses need to be worried. They are also sensitive about climate change as the higher or lower temperature will make them sick, thus the Rats should keep an eye on the weather and temperature, change garments according to the season. It is also suggested that they quit smoking and drinking alcohol.

Rat's Fortune in 2024

Rat horoscope in 2024 is quite good. They may do a good job using their talent and wisdom and hence get promoted, and financially a higher wage. Businessmen may also harvest more than in previous years. But be careful of tricks and frauds when making an investment. In term of love relationship, it can be a hopeful year for the singles as they may meet their true love and start dating. The marriage life for the married would be harmonious as a whole. The health fortune prediction is not very good. They’d better drink less alcohol, practice more and eat healthily.

Career: In 2024, both employees and self-employed Rat people would may make a big progress in career. Take a note to get along well with workmates or business partners.
Wealth: They could expect a salary rise and additional income from investment. But don’t be greedy and dream of being rich overnight.
Relationships: It is a lucky year for singles as they are very likely to start dating. The life for married people would be sweet as a whole.
Education: This year, they would acquire more knowledge. What’s more, their ways of thinking would become more flexible and creativity would be enhanced.
Health: Be cautious of kidney and urology diseases. Stay calm when having conflicts with others; otherwise they may get injured fighting with others.

Rat's Fortune in 2025

The Rat fortune of 2025 would be quite good. The career of people born in the year of Rat go smoothly, accordingly, finance fortune may be also on the rise. As for love, they may encounter ups and downs and face small challenges that will eventually be solved. Special attention is needed in terms of health. There may be some health risks in June, August and November of the lunar calendar, and good lifestyle is needed.

Career: In 2025, people with the Chinese zodiac Rat would come across plenty of opportunities, crucial for career success. However, the lunar months of June, leap June, and July may bring some variables and challenges, which could be overcome by thinking calmly.
Wealth: For Rat people, 2025 would be a year of relatively good financial fortune. They would have a great income, but their expenses may be high. Therefore, they should try to control their expense and save money.
Relationships: In 2025, their love fortune may be mixed. There would be both hard periods when they may encounter various challenges, and smoother months when singles may meet their true love and those with a partner would have sweet pleasurable moments.
Education: Their luck in study is very good, as long as they study hard, they are able to quickly understand & master knowledge and make progress.
Health: During the year 2025, they may face some health risks, so they are advised to do medical check-ups regularly. In addition, more care is needed when going out.

Famous People: Rat Zodiac Eminent Personalities

George H. W. Bush (41st US President): June 12, 1924, Wood Rat
Prince Charles (Prince of Wales): November 14, 1948, Earth Rat
Eminem (Rapper): October 17, 1972, Water Rat
Katy Perry (Pop Star): October 25, 1984, Wood Rat
Cristiano Ronaldo (Football Star): February 5, 1985, Wood Rat
Tom Holland (Actor): June 1, 1996, Fire Rat

Check 12 Chinese Zodiac Animals

Rat

Tiger

Rabbit

Dragon

Snake

Horse

Sheep

Monkey

Rooster

Dog

Pig

Year of the Rat

Lucky Things for Rats:

Things Should be Avoided:

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