Year of the Rat鼠年 shǔ nián · the first animal of the Chinese zodiac
Quick facts
- Position
- 1 of 12
- Zodiac name
- 鼠 shǔ - Rat
- Everyday word
- 老鼠 lǎoshǔ
- “Year of the Rat”
- 鼠年 shǔ nián
- Earthly Branch
- 子 zǐ
- Hours of the day
- 11 pm – 1 am
- Yin or yang
- Yang
- Next Rat year
- 2032 (11 February 2032 - 30 January 2033)
Year of the Rat years and dates
Each zodiac year starts at Chinese New Year and ends the day before the next one. If you were born in January or February, check the dates below or use the Chinese Zodiac Calculator.
| Year | Starts | Ends | Element |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 31 Jan 1900 | 18 Feb 1901 | Metal |
| 1912 | 18 Feb 1912 | 5 Feb 1913 | Water |
| 1924 | 5 Feb 1924 | 23 Jan 1925 | Wood |
| 1936 | 24 Jan 1936 | 10 Feb 1937 | Fire |
| 1948 | 10 Feb 1948 | 28 Jan 1949 | Earth |
| 1960 | 28 Jan 1960 | 14 Feb 1961 | Metal |
| 1972 | 15 Feb 1972 | 2 Feb 1973 | Water |
| 1984 | 2 Feb 1984 | 19 Feb 1985 | Wood |
| 1996 | 19 Feb 1996 | 6 Feb 1997 | Fire |
| 2008 | 7 Feb 2008 | 25 Jan 2009 | Earth |
| 2020 | 25 Jan 2020 | 11 Feb 2021 | Metal |
| 2032 | 11 Feb 2032 | 30 Jan 2033 | Water |
| 2044 | 30 Jan 2044 | 16 Feb 2045 | Wood |
How to say Year of the Rat in Chinese
To give your own sign, say 我属 (wǒ shǔ, “I belong to”) plus the animal. To ask someone else, say 你属什么？ (nǐ shǔ shénme?).
Rat personality: what the sign stands for
People born in a Year of the Rat are traditionally described as quick-witted and resourceful, good at spotting an opportunity and careful with money.
Said to be
- quick-witted
- resourceful
- adaptable
- thrifty
Said to watch out for
- cautious to the point of timid
- can be stubborn
These are traditional beliefs, shared for fun and for cultural background. They are not predictions.
The Rat in the Great Race
In the story of the Great Race, the Jade Emperor promised a place in the calendar to the first twelve animals to cross a river. The Rat could not swim well, so it rode on the Ox's back and jumped off at the last moment to finish first. That is why the smallest animal leads the zodiac.
The Rat in Chinese culture
In old China a house with rats was a house with grain to spare, so the Rat became a symbol of wealth and plenty. Because rats have large families, it also stands for fertility.
The zodiac uses the single character 鼠 (shǔ). In everyday speech a rat or mouse is 老鼠 (lǎoshǔ), and the same word 鼠标 (shǔbiāo) means a computer mouse.
Chinese idioms with 鼠
胆小如鼠
dǎn xiǎo rú shǔ
"as timid as a mouse"
Said of someone who is easily frightened.
鼠目寸光
shǔ mù cùn guāng
"a rat's eyes see only an inch"
Short-sighted; unable to see beyond the immediate gain.
Rat compatibility in tradition
Traditional matchmaking groups the twelve animals by their Earthly Branches. These pairings are folk tradition, not science. To check any two signs, use the Chinese Zodiac Compatibility chart.
Your own zodiac year is called 本命年 (běnmìngnián). Tradition says it can bring bad luck, so people wear something red for protection.
The other zodiac animals
Find your animal with the Chinese Zodiac CalculatorFrequently asked questions
What years are the Year of the Rat?
Recent and coming Years of the Rat are 1996, 2008, 2020, 2032, 2044. Each one starts at Chinese New Year, so January and early February birthdays usually belong to the year before.
When is the next Year of the Rat?
The next Year of the Rat runs from 11 February 2032 to 30 January 2033.
How do you say Year of the Rat in Chinese?
It is 鼠年 (shǔ nián). To say you were born in that year, say 我属鼠 (wǒ shǔ shǔ).
Is it the Year of the Rat or the Year of the Mouse?
Both are possible translations. Chinese uses one word, 鼠 (shǔ), for rats and mice. English usually says Year of the Rat.