Born in 1984: the Rat
A Yang Wood 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 Wood-element year, 1984 adds a cooperative, growth-minded and quietly generous streak to the usual Rat character.
The 1984 lunar year ran from February 2, 1984 to February 20, 1985. If you were born on or after February 2, 1984 you are a Rat; if you were born earlier in 1984, you belong to the previous year's sign, the Pig.
What the Wood element adds
Wood is the element of spring, growth and cooperation. A Wood year tends to soften an animal's sharper edges and push it toward teamwork, patience and building things that last rather than chasing quick wins.
The full 60-year cycle pairs each of the 12 animals with each of the 5 elements, so a Wood Rat year comes around only once every 60 years — the last one before 1984 was 1924, and the next is 2044. People born in it are said to combine quick-witted and resourceful with the element's cooperative nature. Its Yin/Yang polarity is fixed as Yang for every Rat year. See the Wood element and the full Wood Rat profile.
1984 at a glance
| Animal | 🐀 Rat (鼠) |
|---|---|
| Element | Wood |
| Polarity | Yang |
| Best match | Ox |
| Hardest match | Horse |
| Lucky numbers | 2, 3 |
| Lucky colors | blue, gold, green |
Rat compatibility
In the traditional chart, a 1984 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 1984 is back in their own zodiac year in 1996, 2008, 2020, 2032 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 1948 1960 1972 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 1984?
1984 is the year of the Rat (Wood Rat, Yang polarity). Anyone born on or after February 2, 1984 is a Rat; a birthday earlier in 1984 belongs to the previous sign, the Pig.
What element is the 1984 zodiac year?
1984 is a Wood-element year. Wood is the element of spring, growth and cooperation. A Wood year tends to soften an animal's sharper edges and push it toward teamwork, patience and building things that last rather than chasing quick wins.
Who is a 1984 Rat most compatible with?
Best matches are the Ox (the "secret friend"), plus the Dragon and Monkey. The hardest match is the Horse.
Is 1984 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 1984 is not a Fire Horse year.