Born in 1948: the Rat
A Yang Earth Rat 🐀
Rats are sharp observers who spot an opportunity before anyone else and act on it. They are thrifty, sociable, and quick to solve a practical problem. As a Earth-element year, 1948 adds a grounded, practical and patient streak to the usual Rat character.
The 1948 lunar year ran from February 10, 1948 to January 29, 1949. If you were born on or after February 10, 1948 you are a Rat; if you were born earlier in 1948, you belong to the previous year's sign, the Pig.
What the Earth element adds
Earth is the element of the harvest, stability and realism. An Earth year makes an animal steadier and more dependable, focused on security and the long game, though it can also make it slower to change course.
The full 60-year cycle pairs each of the 12 animals with each of the 5 elements, so a Earth Rat year comes around only once every 60 years — the last one before 1948 was 1888, and the next is 2008. People born in it are said to combine quick-witted and resourceful with the element's grounded nature. Its Yin/Yang polarity is fixed as Yang for every Rat year. See the Earth element and the full Earth Rat profile.
1948 at a glance
| Animal | 🐀 Rat (鼠) |
|---|---|
| Element | Earth |
| Polarity | Yang |
| Best match | Ox |
| Hardest match | Horse |
| Lucky numbers | 2, 3 |
| Lucky colors | blue, gold, green |
Rat compatibility
In the traditional chart, a 1948 Rat gets on best with the Ox (the "secret friend" pairing), and also with Dragon and Monkey. The hardest pairing is the Horse, six years apart in the cycle. See the full Rat compatibility table.
Your zodiac years
The Rat returns every 12 years, so someone born in 1948 is back in their own zodiac year in 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996 and so on. Tradition calls this your běnmìngnián — despite being "your" year, it is thought to clash with Tài Suì (the God of Age) and to carry a higher chance of setbacks, so many people wear red through it for protection.
Other Rat years
1936 1960 1972 1984 1996 2008 2020 2032 2044
Full Rat personality profile → Rat compatibility with every sign →
Know your exact birth date? Use the calculator for your full combination →
Frequently asked questions
What Chinese zodiac sign is 1948?
1948 is the year of the Rat (Earth Rat, Yang polarity). Anyone born on or after February 10, 1948 is a Rat; a birthday earlier in 1948 belongs to the previous sign, the Pig.
What element is the 1948 zodiac year?
1948 is a Earth-element year. Earth is the element of the harvest, stability and realism. An Earth year makes an animal steadier and more dependable, focused on security and the long game, though it can also make it slower to change course.
Who is a 1948 Rat most compatible with?
Best matches are the Ox (the "secret friend"), plus the Dragon and Monkey. The hardest match is the Horse.
Is 1948 a lucky year to be born in?
Chinese tradition does not rank whole years as lucky or unlucky to be born in — every animal has strengths and weaknesses. The one combination widely treated with caution is the Fire Horse, and 1948 is not a Fire Horse year.