Year of the Rat, Chinese Zodiac 2020
In the Chinese zodiac, the Rat is the first of the repeating 12-year cycle of animals. The years of the Rat include 2020, 2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960 1948… If you were born in one of the years, your Chinese zodiac sign is the Rat.
What is a Rat Year?
In the Chinese zodiac, each year is represented by an animal. The Rat is the first zodiac sign in the Chinese zodiac cycle. The Year of Rat comes every 12 years as a cycle.
Legend has it that the Jade Emperor held a competition and said the order in which the zodiac animals arrived at his palace would decide the order of the 12-cycle. The Rat climbed up the Ox's head and became the first of the animal signs.
Five Elements of the Rat
In Chinese elements theory, there are five elements: Gold (Metal), Water, Wood, Fire, and Earth. Each zodiac year is associated with an element. Years with the same animal sign and element repeat every 60 years. The most recent rat year is 2020. It is the year of the gold rat.
Read more details on the Five Elements of Zodiac Rat.
Years of the Rat
Chinese zodiac years are based on the Chinese lunar calendar which is around one or two months later than the Gregorian calendar. The Chinese New Year marks the transition from one animal to the next.
| Rat Years | Birth Dates | Types of Rat |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 25 Jan 2020 to 11 Feb 2021 | Gold Rat |
| 2008 | 7 Feb 2008 to 25 Jan 2009 | Earth Rat |
| 1996 | 19 Feb 1996 to 6 Feb 1997 | Fire Rat |
| 1984 | 2 Feb 1984 to 19 Feb 1985 | Wood Rat |
| 1972 | 15 Feb 1972 to 2 Feb 1973 | Water Rat |
| 1960 | 28 Jan 1960 to 14 Feb 1961 | Gold Rat |
| 1948 | 10 Feb 1948 to 28 Jan 1949 | Earth Rat |
| 1936 | 24 Jan 1936 to 10 Feb 1937 | Fire Rat |
Use the Chinese Zodiac calculator below to find out your zodiac sign and element.
Rat’s Personality - Smart, Alert, and Quick-witted
The most outstanding characteristics of people born in the rat years are alertness, smartness, and being resourceful. Owing to their positive contributions and strong flexibility at work, rat people are popular with their leaders. They are careful, quick-witted, well organized, and full of wicked ideas.
However, lacking courage and leadership, rat people cannot be leaders of commercial organizations or other groups. They are sometimes selfish, and opportunistic, even though they are otherwise good-natured.
Chinese people believed that personal characteristics are associated with the birth of animal signs and elements. People born with different animal signs and elements will have different personalities.
| Rats | Birth Years | Personality Traits |
|---|---|---|
| Gold Rat | 1960, 2020 | clever, filial, having good taste |
| Earth Rat | 1948, 2008 | steady, realistic, self-opinionated |
| Fire Rat | 1936, 1996 | smart, sociable, highly independent |
| Wood Rat | 1924, 1984 | ambitious, hard-working, irritable |
| Water Rat | 1912, 1972 | reserve, emotional, compassionate |
Rat's 2022 Horoscope
No matter how good or bad predictions for rats in 2022 are, or what type of rat you are, you don't need to take it too seriously. It is for reference only, just like western astrology.
Rat’s Health in 2022
This will not be a good year for Rats' health based on the Rat fortune prediction in 2022. They will be prone to disease of the kidneys or the urinary system. When feeling uncomfortable, they should receive proper treatment timely. Keep regular exercising would be helpful for Rat people's health in 2022.
Rat’s Career Predictions in 2022
Rats will have good opportunities in their careers this year. They will readily receive help from others and yield twice the results for half the effort, but at the same time, they will be vulnerable to villains. So it will be necessary to guard against the ups and downs of working life.
Rat's Finance Fortune in 2022
This will be a year of hard work for the Rats. Even if their income rises due to the development of their careers, their expenditure will increase accordingly. Be careful not to be trapped by deceptive competition or to lose money because of friends. Especially avoid moneylending or being a guarantor.
Rat’s Relationship Horoscope in 2022
This year there will be nothing striking about the love life and relationships of Rats. The chances of single Rats finding their love will be embarrassingly low and the feelings of people they admire will tend to be cool. Married Rats may also have some troubles or end up in a cold war situation.
Continue to read more details on Rats' Fortune Predictions in 2022.
Rat's Love Compatibility
People born in the year of the rat are smart, quick-witted, and resourceful. They are most compatible with people who are talented and ambitious. Find below the best matches for rats:
Best Match with Rat: Dragon, Monkey
Rat people and dragon people are both brave, confident and eager for success. They get on very well as they have the same goal and take optimistic views. Their romantic relationship will have a bright future.
Being smart and lively, the monkey can cooperate well with the rat. Not only doing well in the work part, but they are also compatible with each other in a relationship. Rat people admire the monkey’s great ambitions, monkey people appreciate the rat’s insight. They can mend their difference through effective communication.
Worst Match with Rat: Goat
It is difficult for the thrifty rat to get along with extravagant people. The rat cannot afford the goat’s luxurious lifestyle. People born in the year of the rat may think goat people lack ambition, always seek ease and comfort. The relationship between goat and rat won’t be harmonious if they cannot reach a consensus on financial affairs.
Chinese Zodiac Rabbit's Best Jobs
People with Chinese zodiac Rat are quick-witted, smart, and have a sharp perspective, which enables them for skilled jobs such as researcher, engineer, architect, and fashion designer. They have good insight and always have clear instincts to potential problems.
With positive, independent, and diligent characteristics, people with the zodiac Rat sign are also suitable for jobs like entrepreneur, director, and administrator.
How to Get Lucky in 2022 for Rat People?
Follow the lucky things and avoid these unlucky ones, it may help you have a smooth 2022.
Rat's Lucky Things
- Lucky Numbers: 2, 3, 5
- Lucky Color: blue, green
- Lucky Direction: northeast
Rat's Unlucky Things
- Unlucky Numbers: 1, 8, 9
- Unlucky Colors: white, yellow
- Unlucky Direction: northwest
Famous People Born in the Year of the Rat
- John F. Kennedy (the 35th president of the United States): born on 20 January 1961
- Charles (Prince of Wales): born 14 November 1948
- George Washington (the first president of the United States): born 22 February 1732
- William Shakespeare (the greatest writer in the English language): born on 26 April 1564
Introduction to the 12 Zodiac Animals
Listed below are all the 12 zodiac animals with detailed information, check out which animal sign you belong to and get lucky in 2022!