If you were born in 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020, 2032 (or the same animal year before that), you are a Rat. Note that the Chinese year begins at Lunar New Year in late January or February, so if you were born in early January or February, check the exact date — your sign may be the previous year's animal.
Rat strengths
- Quick-witted
- Resourceful
- Charming
- Adaptable
- Ambitious
Watch-outs
- Opportunistic
- Restless
- Sometimes greedy
- Can be timid under pressure
The Rat personality
First of the twelve animals, the Rat is quick-witted, adaptable, and shrewd. Charming and sociable on the surface, Rats are strategic underneath — they read situations fast and rarely waste an opportunity. The clever, resourceful opportunist who spots the angle first.
Rat compatibility
In Chinese astrology, the Rat gets along best with the Dragon and Monkey — together they form one of the four compatibility trines. The hardest match is the Horse, the Rat's traditional clash. See the full Chinese zodiac compatibility chart.
Rat luck
Lucky numbers: 2, 3. Lucky colors: blue, gold, green.
Explore the Chinese zodiac
Traditional Chinese astrology associations, offered as an interest-and-belief framework. See our editorial policy.