Chinese zodiac / Rat
The Rat in the Chinese zodiac
The Rat opens the zodiac cycle, and the old story says it got there by riding across the river on the Ox's back and hopping off first. That tells you most of what you need to know: quick, resourceful and never short of a plan.
Rats are born in 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008 and 2020, each year with its own element. They are sociable, observant and good with money, and they tend to be the first in the room to notice an opportunity.
Rat years
- 1936Fire Rat
- 1948Earth Rat
- 1960Metal Rat
- 1972Water Rat
- 1984Wood Rat
- 1996Fire Rat
- 2008Earth Rat
- 2020Metal Rat
The zodiac year starts at Lunar New Year, so a birthday in January or early February usually belongs to the previous sign. Check an exact date.
The Rat personality
- Quick-witted
- Resourceful
- Adaptable
Rats notice opportunities before anyone else and are good at making a little go a long way. Charming in company, they like to keep a few plans in reserve.
- Lucky numbers
- 2, 3
- Lucky colours
- BlueGoldGreen
- Trickier matches
- Horse
At their best
Rats think fast and adapt faster. They are charming company, loyal to their small circle and skilled at making a little go a long way. Give a Rat a problem and a deadline and it will find the shortcut everyone else missed.
To watch
The same quickness can tip into restlessness and a habit of keeping options open rather than committing. Rats also worry more than they show, especially about security. The trait to manage is the urge to hedge; the best Rat years are the ones where they back a single plan.
The Rat in love and at work
In love
Rats are affectionate, witty partners who like to be needed. They want security as much as excitement and do best with someone who provides the calm while they provide the sparkle. Their closest traditional matches are the Ox, the Dragon and the Monkey; the Horse is the classic clash.
At work
Rats suit work that rewards sharp judgement and timing: trading, sales, research, anything with a deal in it. They are strong starters and good at spotting what a client wants before the client says it. They do less well in slow, rule-bound roles with no room to manoeuvre.
Matches follow the traditional harmony and clash pairings. Try any two signs on the compatibility checker.
A year to go gently
The Rat in 2027, the Year of the Fire Goat
2027 asks the Rat to slow down and check details. Your quick thinking is still your biggest asset, but the year rewards patience over clever shortcuts.
Questions
- Why is the Rat the first sign?
- In the traditional story the Jade Emperor held a race to decide the order of the animals. The Rat hitched a ride on the Ox and leapt ahead at the finish, so it came first and the Ox second. The order has stayed the same ever since: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig.
- Which years are Rat years?
- 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020. Each starts at Lunar New Year, not 1 January, so a January or early February birthday usually belongs to the previous sign.
- Is 2027 a good year for the Rat?
- A year to go gently. Rat and Goat are a 'harm' pair in the traditional calendar, so small misunderstandings can grow if left alone. The Rat 2027 forecast goes through career, money, love and wellbeing.