The Rat 鼠
quick-witted · resourceful · adaptable · charming
Rat personality
Best traits: quick-witted, resourceful, adaptable, charming. 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.
Weak spots: They can be restless, over-cautious with money, and quick to criticize. Rats sometimes spread themselves across too many small schemes.
Rat years
People born in these years are Rats (check the Chinese New Year cut-off if you were born in January or February):
1936 · 1948 · 1960 · 1972 · 1984 · 1996 · 2008 · 2020 · 2032 · 2044
Rat compatibility
- Best match: Ox — the classic "secret friend" pairing.
- Also strong: Dragon, Monkey (same affinity triangle).
- Hardest match: Horse (direct opposition).
See how the Rat pairs with all 12 signs →
The Rat by element
Every Rat also has one of five elements, set by the birth year: Wood Rat · Fire Rat · Earth Rat · Metal Rat · Water Rat. The element colours the personality — see how the five elements work.
Lucky for the Rat
Numbers: 2, 3. Colors: blue, gold, green. Suggested careers: accountant, entrepreneur, writer, researcher, broker.
Frequently asked questions
What years are Rat years?
Recent Rat years are 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020, 2032, 2044. They repeat every 12 years. If you were born in January or February, check the Chinese New Year date for your year.
What is the Rat personality like?
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. On the difficult side: They can be restless, over-cautious with money, and quick to criticize. Rats sometimes spread themselves across too many small schemes.
Who is the Rat most compatible with?
The Ox (the "secret friend" pairing), plus the Dragon and Monkey. The hardest match is the Horse.
Is the Rat a lucky sign?
No sign is luckier than another in the Chinese zodiac — each has strengths and weaknesses. The Rat's lucky numbers are 2, 3 and lucky colors are blue, gold, green.