The Rat in the Chinese zodiac
In love, the Rat is charming, attentive and clever. It needs someone it can talk and make plans with, and it takes good care of its own.
The years of the Rat
The year begins with the Chinese New Year, the second new moon after the winter solstice (Beijing time). The table gives the first and last day of every year.
| Year | Animal and element | Begins | Ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1924 | Wood Rat | 5 February 1924 | 23 January 1925 |
| 1936 | Fire Rat | 24 January 1936 | 10 February 1937 |
| 1948 | Earth Rat | 10 February 1948 | 28 January 1949 |
| 1960 | Metal Rat | 28 January 1960 | 14 February 1961 |
| 1972 | Water Rat | 15 February 1972 | 2 February 1973 |
| 1984 | Wood Rat | 2 February 1984 | 19 February 1985 |
| 1996 | Fire Rat | 19 February 1996 | 6 February 1997 |
| 2008 | Earth Rat | 7 February 2008 | 25 January 2009 |
| 2020 | Metal Rat | 25 January 2020 | 11 February 2021 |