Chinese zodiac · sign 1 of 12
Rat
According to Chinese tradition, the Rat represents wit, shrewdness and adaptability. It's the first animal of the zodiac cycle.
- On the wheel of the twelve animals, in black: Rat.
- The red triangle links it with its two friends (三合): Dragon and Monkey.
- The dotted line crosses to its opposite (六冲): Horse.
History and symbolism
The Rat in the Chinese tradition
According to legend, the Jade Emperor organized a race to decide the order of the animals. The Rat came first by riding on the Ox's back and jumping off at the end.
Traits
How it shows up
Characteristics
- Intelligent
- Shrewd
- Versatile
- Sociable
- Resourceful
Strengths
- Wit and shrewdness
- Adaptability
- Sociability
- Observation
- Resourcefulness
Challenges
- A tendency toward greed
- Difficulty trusting
- Impatience
- Excessive criticism
- Perceived duplicity
Rat years
Were you born in a Rat year?
The Chinese year starts with the Lunar New Year, between January 21 and February 21. If you were born in those weeks, check the exact day: your sign may be the previous one.
| Year | From | To | Element |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1924 | Feb 5, 1924 | Jan 24, 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 7, 2008 | Jan 25, 2009 | Earth |
| 2020 | Jan 25, 2020 | Feb 11, 2021 | Metal |
The five elements
Five versions of the same sign
Every Rat is also born with one of five elements, which changes every two years. The table above shows which one belongs to each year.
Wood
Fire
Earth
Metal
Water
What's your animal?
Calculate it from your date of birth, with the exact Chinese New Year cutoff, and see which countries, brands and people share your sign.
Keep in mind
The Chinese zodiac is a belief system. There's no evidence that year of birth determines personality traits.
The Chinese zodiac is an age-old belief system rooted in Chinese culture. Molino uses it as a tool for reflection and self-knowledge. The interpretations don't constitute scientific evidence, predictions or diagnoses. The calculations are deterministic and reproducible from the year of birth.