Rat Zodiac Sign
Clever, adaptive, and always one step ahead of the game.
Years of the Rat include 2032, 2020, 2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960, 1948, 1936. The Rat is the first zodiac sign in the twelve-year cycle. Rats open the 12-year cycle with fast thinking and strategic instincts. They notice opportunities earlier than anyone else and know how to turn the smallest idea into a result. Resourcefulness is their love language.
Rat Horoscope Forecasts
Most Recent Rat Year (2020 - Metal Rat)
2020 is a Metal Rat year with a yang pulse.
Career: Career & Ambition: Expect momentum whenever you collaborate or share ideas openly. Make space for skill upgrades and you will stand out during the busiest chapters of the year.
Wealth: Wealth & Opportunity: Budget mindfully in the first half of the year, then double down on investments that pass both your intuition and your research filters.
Relationships: Relationships & Community: Show up consistently for the people who value your heart. Action-oriented gestures will dissolve any lingering misunderstandings.
Health: Health & Vitality: Balance ambition with rest. Combine movement with calming rituals so your nervous system stays steady while you chase new horizons.
Lucky colours: Silver, Slate Blue, Pearl
Upcoming Rat Year (2032 - Water Rat)
2032 is a Water Rat year with a yang pulse.
Career: Career & Ambition: Expect momentum whenever you collaborate or share ideas openly. Make space for skill upgrades and you will stand out during the busiest chapters of the year.
Wealth: Wealth & Opportunity: Budget mindfully in the first half of the year, then double down on investments that pass both your intuition and your research filters.
Relationships: Relationships & Community: Show up consistently for the people who value your heart. Action-oriented gestures will dissolve any lingering misunderstandings.
Health: Health & Vitality: Balance ambition with rest. Combine movement with calming rituals so your nervous system stays steady while you chase new horizons.
Lucky colours: Indigo, Seafoam, White
Rat Lucky Items
These are the lucky items that bring Rats luck.
Things that bring Rats luck
- Lucky numbers: 2, 3, 23, 32
- Lucky days: 4th Lunar Day, 13th Lunar Day
- Lucky colors: Blue, Gold, Green
- Lucky flowers: Lily, African Violet
- Lucky direction: West, Northwest, Southwest
- Lucky months: 2nd Lunar Month, 5th Lunar Month, 9th Lunar Month
Things to avoid
- Unlucky colors: Yellow, Brown
- Unlucky numbers: 5, 9
- Unlucky direction: South, Southeast
- Unlucky months: 4th Lunar Month, 10th Lunar Month, 12th Lunar Month
Rat Love Compatibility
Best Matches
Trine Partners (三合)
Natural allies who share core values and energy. Powerful and harmonious connections.
- Rat + Dragon — Natural allies who share ambition and vision. Dragons provide the boldness while Rats bring strategic thinking. A powerhouse combination for achieving goals.
- Rat + Monkey — Clever minds think alike! Both are witty, resourceful, and love intellectual stimulation. Together they create innovative solutions and enjoy endless conversations.
Six Harmony (六合)
Perfect complementary match. Balances and completes each other beautifully.
- Rat + Ox — Perfect balance of quick thinking and steady reliability. Ox provides stability while Rat adds creativity. They complement each other beautifully in life and business.
Friendly Matches
Generally harmonious. These pairings can work well with mutual respect and understanding.
- Rat + Pig — Generally harmonious with mutual respect. Pig's generosity meshes well with Rat's resourcefulness.
- Rat + Tiger — Can work together with some compromise. Tiger's boldness and Rat's caution balance each other.
- Rat + Dog — Solid friendship potential. Both are loyal and can build trust over time.
- Rat + Snake — Intellectual connection keeps things interesting. Both are strategic thinkers.
- Rat + Rooster — Decent match with occasional friction. Both are detail-oriented.
- Rat + Rat — Mirror match - understand each other well but may compete for resources.
Challenging Matches
Harmful (六害)
Creates subtle tensions. Best to maintain respectful distance.
- Rat + Goat — Subtle tensions that drain energy over time. Rat's practicality conflicts with Goat's artistic nature. Best to maintain distance.
Conflict (六冲)
Direct opposition. Requires significant effort and compromise.
- Rat + Horse — Direct opposition in values and approach. Horse's impulsiveness clashes with Rat's calculated nature. Frequent misunderstandings and power struggles make this pairing extremely challenging.
Punishment (相刑)
Most harmful pairing. Brings out the worst in each other.
- Rat + Rabbit — Most challenging of all pairings. Creates mutual stress and brings out the worst in each other. Even casual interactions can be draining. Avoid close partnerships.
Rat Personality Snapshot
General
Rats are quick-witted, observant, and brilliant at reading the room. They gather information quietly, plan three moves ahead, and rarely jump without a backup plan. There is a restless curiosity to their nature and an urge to stretch into new experiences.
Men
Rat men are charismatic strategists who enjoy setting the pace. They happily experiment with new projects and rarely waste energy. Loyalty arrives through respect-once they trust you, they will champion you fiercely.
Women
Rat women mix charm with laser-sharp observation. They bring style and structure to everything they manage and have a gift for smoothing chaos. Nurturing and protective, they still insist on independence and mental stimulation.
Rat Element Combinations
Layer the five elements with the animal to understand how each sixty-year cycle expresses itself.
| Animal + Element | Key Traits |
|---|---|
| Wood Rat | Wood Rats are sociable networkers with a collaborative spirit. They naturally build helpful alliances and love brainstorming bold ideas. |
| Fire Rat | Fire Rats are daring, expressive, and magnetic. They take calculated risks, sell a vision with contagious enthusiasm, and hate staying still. |
| Earth Rat | Earth Rats are pragmatic planners. They turn insights into sustainable systems and can balance ambition with steady progress. |
| Metal Rat | Metal Rats are decisive, disciplined, and focused on excellence. They protect their time fiercely and work best with clear goals. |
| Water Rat | Water Rats are intuitive connectors who rely on gut instinct. They read subtle cues effortlessly and excel in research, communication, and diplomacy. |
Rat Years & Elements
Each cycle starts on Chinese New Year in the Pacific/Kiritimati timezone (UTC+14) so the upcoming year becomes available the moment it begins anywhere on Earth.
| Year | Element & Polarity | Cycle Start | Cycle End |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2032 | Water (Yang) | February 11, 2032 | January 30, 2033 |
| 2020 | Metal (Yang) | January 25, 2020 | February 11, 2021 |
| 2008 | Earth (Yang) | February 7, 2008 | January 25, 2009 |
| 1996 | Fire (Yang) | February 19, 1996 | February 6, 1997 |
| 1984 | Wood (Yang) | February 2, 1984 | February 19, 1985 |
| 1972 | Water (Yang) | February 15, 1972 | February 2, 1973 |
| 1960 | Metal (Yang) | January 28, 1960 | February 14, 1961 |
| 1948 | Earth (Yang) | February 10, 1948 | January 28, 1949 |
| 1936 | Fire (Yang) | January 24, 1936 | February 10, 1937 |