Rat
Clever, charming and quick-witted, the Rat reads people fast, adapts easily and keeps an ambitious eye on the next opening.
The Rat's lucky charms
- Colours
- blue
- gold
- green
- Numbers 1 · 2 · 3 · 6 · 8
- Flowers lily, african violet
- Directions northeast, southeast
- Seasons winter
The Rat's personality
People born under the Rat are clever and quick-witted, with an observant eye that misses little. They are charming and sociable, adapt easily to new people and circumstances, and bring real ambition to whatever they take on. Often intuitive and generous, they also tend to be resourceful, attentive and meticulous, and they value their independence and can be passionate.
The same sharpness has another side. Their curiosity can pull them in too many directions, and their caution can shade into anxiety. They tend to be cunning, sometimes opportunistic or manipulative, and can turn jealous or possessive. For all their wish for security, they can be short-sighted.
In work and life, they often seek security while staying alert to openings. Their resourcefulness and drive make entrepreneurship a natural path, and they tend to handle details with care.
Strengths
- clever (Confirmed by 6 independent sources)
- quick-witted (Confirmed by 4 independent sources)
- adaptable (Confirmed by 3 independent sources)
- ambitious (Confirmed by 3 independent sources)
- charming (Confirmed by 3 independent sources)
- observant (Confirmed by 3 independent sources)
- sociable (Confirmed by 3 independent sources)
- generous (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
- intuitive (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
- strategic (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
- vital (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
Weaknesses
- cautious (Confirmed by 3 independent sources)
- curious (Confirmed by 3 independent sources)
- anxious (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
- jealous (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
- manipulative (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
- possessive (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
- short-sighted (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
- suspicious (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
- talkative (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
Other traits
- attentive (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
- cunning (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
- independent (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
- meticulous (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
- opportunistic (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
- passionate (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
- resourceful (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
- security-seeking (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
Careers
- entrepreneur (Confirmed by 2 independent sources)
The dots show how many independent sources agree on the trait, up to five.
The Rat's pairings
Best matches
Handle with care
Neutral pairings: Tiger, Snake, Dog, and Pig.
By the year's element
The element of the birth year shades the sign. Only traits several sources agree on are shown.
Wood Rat
creative
Fire Rat
energetic, enthusiastic, independent
Metal Rat
jealous, possessive
Water Rat
intuitive, observant
The sign in detail
- Earthly branch
- 子 zi
- Polarity
- Yang
- Branch element
- Water
- Fixed element
- Water
- Place in the cycle
- 1 of 12
The Rat in questions
Rat: what is its earthly branch?
The Rat is the branch 子 (zi), number 1 of 12 in the cycle, of Yang polarity.
Rat: what is its element?
Its element is Water, whether you follow the branch element or the fixed element of popular horoscopes.
What are the strengths of the Rat?
According to several agreeing sources: clever, quick-witted, adaptable, ambitious, and charming.
What are the weaknesses of the Rat?
According to several agreeing sources: cautious, curious, anxious, jealous, and manipulative.
Rat: which signs are favourable to it?
In the classical tradition: Ox, Dragon, and Monkey.
Rat: which signs are unfavourable to it?
In the classical tradition: Rabbit, Horse, Goat, and Rooster.
What are the lucky charms of the Rat?
Colours: blue, gold, and green. Flowers: lily and african violet. Numbers: 1, 2, 3, 6, and 8. Directions: northeast and southeast. Seasons: winter.
This profile rests on the Chinese tradition. The affinities between signs, yin and yang and the elements follow the classical treatises of Chinese astrology; a character trait, lucky charm or career is kept only when at least two independent sources confirm it.