Year of the Rat 子
Yang Water branch · Clever · resourceful · quick to adapt
First to see the opening.
In the Chinese tradition, Rat years are linked to sharp instincts and resourcefulness — you may spot opportunities and shortcuts others miss. In groups you tend to be the strategist; the tradition's caution is spreading yourself across too many angles at once. People born in Rat years are traditionally read as quick-witted, resourceful, first to spot the opening.
Which years belong to the Rat?
A zodiac year starts at Lunar New Year, not on 1 January. Born in January or early February of a year below, you may belong to the previous animal — the calculator on the Chinese zodiac page uses the true boundary date for your birth year.
- 1936Fire Rat
- 1948Earth Rat
- 1960Metal Rat
- 1972Water Rat
- 1984Wood Rat
- 1996Fire Rat
- 2008Earth Rat
- 2020Metal Rat
- 2032Water Rat
The element changes each cycle — a Fire Rat and a Water Rat share the branch but not the stem, which is why the same animal feels different across generations.
Who does the Rat get along with?
- Trine partners
- Dragon and Monkey — the traditional harmony triangle: animals said to run in the same pack, sharing instincts and plans without friction.
- Secret friend
- Ox — the six-harmony pairing: quiet, reliable loyalty rather than fireworks.
- Clash
- Horse — the opposite branch, six places across the wheel. Traditionally read as friction that demands effort, not a verdict on any real pair of people.
Lucky numbers by tradition: 2, 3. These are traditional associations, not predictions — a full match reads all four pillars, not the year animal alone. Run a real match →
Famous Rats
Verified birth dates from public records — tap any chart to see the whole thing.
- George WashingtonFounding Father and first U.S. president (1732–1799)
- Pope Francis266th pope of the Catholic Church from 2013 to 2025
- Cristiano RonaldoPortuguese association football player
- George H. W. BushPresident of the United States from 1989 to 1993
- Alan TuringEnglish computer scientist
- EminemAmerican rapper, record producer and actor
- Charles IIIKing of the United Kingdom since 2022
- Diego MaradonaArgentine football player and manager
The Rat is one pillar of four
Your year animal is an eighth of a full Chinese chart: BaZi reads a stem and branch for your year, month, day and hour, and the day — not the year — carries your core self.