The Chinese Zodiac starts with the Year of the Rat. These Chinese animal signs occur in the same order in 12-year cycles. There are five Chinese elements namely Metal, Water, Wood, Fire, and Earth which influence the attributes of the zodiac signs. By combining with each of the twelve animals, a 60-year Chinese Zodiac cycle is created.

People born in the Year of the Rat are alert and clever in nature. They keep their cool even in worst circumstances, maintaining a positive attitude all through.

Year Of The Rat: Dates

The real dates of the Year of the Rat, combined with the Chinese elements are:

Earth Rat:

10 February 1948 – 28 January 1949
7 February 2008 – 25 January 2009

Metal Rat:

28 January 1960 – 14 February 1961
25 January 2020 – 11 February 2021

Water Rat:

15 February 1972 – 2 February 1973
11 February 2032 – 30 January 2033

Wood Rat:

2 February 1984 – 19 February 1985

Fire Rat:

19 February 1996 – 6 February 1997

Year Of The Rat: Personality Traits

Positive Traits

People born in the year of the rat are gifted with instinct and react to a situation very fast. They are sharp, ingenious, and highly flexible. They can adapt to new surroundings without any difficulty. These people use their powers of imagination and intelligence to execute whatever they want.

The Rat personality tends to snoop around and is competent to handle whatever they set their sights on. Lady rats are charming, clever, and gorgeous. They are sharp and adept at absorbing new things. Rat zodiac people can be highly motivated and are determined to achieve their targets.

Negative Traits

Year of the Rat people can be violent and become fanatical in pursuit of their objectives. If they can restrain themselves a little and be patient with others, they can achieve great things in life. Rats are not good leaders as they lack basic qualities of leadership such as domination, bravery, and vision.

The Rat men and women are highly selective and opportunistic. They have a narrow outlook on things. Normally they are kind, but become rude and ill-mannered at times. As rats operate during the night, people of this Chinese animal sign tend to sleep late into the night.

Influence of Elements

Characteristics of the Year of the Rat Animal Sign are altered by the elements.

Metal Rats

Metal Rats are inflexible and dogmatic which results in their being more purposeful but belligerent. They are dogged in achieving their goals which may make them jealous, angry, and selfish.

Water Rats

Water Rats are more relaxed and less violent because of the calming effect of water. They are clever and understanding and are compatible with others.

Wood Rats

Wood Rats look more confident but are plagued by doubt. They place great value on their family and friends. Hence they can achieve their targets.

Fire Rats

Fire Rats like to look at new ventures and take up the challenges associated with them. They dislike mundane things and try to inject pleasure and excitement into their actions.

Earth Rats

Earth Rats are sensible, realistic, and solid in their approach to life. They put in a lot of hard work to guarantee a stable and booming future.

Year Of The Rat: Health

Year of the Rat people are usually healthy beings with plenty of dynamism and vigor which helps them to remain robust and free from sickness. In summer, they should take care of their skin and breathing problems. They can be more effective with sufficient relaxation. To reduce anxiety and stress, they should go on excursions.

Year Of The Rat: Career

Year of the Rat people eliminate potential trouble in their careers with their sharp intelligence and vision. They are careful and go into minute details of their project. They have a good idea of their goals and are very serious about it. Rats are good in business, politics, research, fine arts, administration, and car racing.

Year Of The Rat: Love

Year of the Rat personalities enjoy meeting new people and attending parties. They are energetic and like to have different social gatherings. Though they make new social contacts, they hardly nurture the friendships. They attract more friends because of their beauty and liveliness. In love, they easily make and break relationships which makes their love affairs problematic and usually one-night stands. Try this free Chinese compatibility calculator to know more.

Luck & Compatibility

Highly Compatible with Dragon, Monkey or Ox
Should Avoid Goat, Horse, Rabbit or Chicken
Lucky Colors: Blue, Green, Golden
Unlucky Colors: Yellow and Brown
Lucky Numbers: 2, 3
Unlucky Numbers: 5, 9
Lucky Flowers: African violet, Lily of the Valley
Lucky Directions: Southeast, Northeast