2008 Chinese zodiac —
the Earth Rat
| Animal sign | Rat 子 — the Earth Rat |
|---|---|
| Element | Yang Earth (戊) |
| 2008 Rat year | Feb 7, 2008 – Jan 25, 2009 |
| Born Jan 1 – Feb 6, 2008 | Fire Pig of 2007 |
| Korean saju year | Starts at Ipchun, Feb 4, 2008 |
| Best matches | Ox, Monkey, Dragon |
| Next Rat year | 2032 (Water Rat), from Feb 11, 2032 |
| Age in 2026 | 18 (Korean age 19) |
People born between Feb 7, 2008 and Jan 25, 2009 are an Earth Rat. The Earth Rat is the careful saver: practical, patient and far more cautious with money than with affection.
Born in January or early February 2008?
The 2008 Rat year began at Chinese New Year on Feb 7, 2008. If you were born from January 1 to Feb 6, 2008, your sign is the Fire Pig of 2007. The year ended on Jan 25, 2009, so birthdays in early 2009 up to that date still count as Rats.
The Korean saju year starts at Ipchun
In Korean saju (the Four Pillars), the year pillar changes at Ipchun, the start of spring — Feb 4, 2008 at about 20:03 Korea time — not at Lunar New Year. A birthday from Feb 4 to Feb 6, 2008 is already 戊子 (Earth Rat) in a saju chart but still a Pig by Lunar New Year. Why saju starts the year at Ipchun →
The Earth Rat personality
The Earth Rat is the careful saver: practical, patient and far more cautious with money than with affection. Earth brings steadiness, patience and practical sense.
Rats read a room in seconds and quietly look after their own. They are warm with the people they trust and quick to leave any table where they are being short-changed. Strengths: sharp instincts for people and opportunity; resourcefulness when money or time is tight; loyalty and generosity inside their circle. Watch for: worry that delays decisions; sensitivity to small losses; a habit of keeping score.
Compatibility
Best matches for the Rat: Ox (84/100), Monkey (84/100), Dragon (72/100). Hardest: Horse (32), Goat (33). All twelve Rat matches →
Age
People born in the 2008 Rat year turn 18 in 2026 (19 in Korean age) and 19 in 2027. The same Earth Rat returns every sixty years — 1948 and 2068.
Rat years
1924 Wood · 1936 Fire · 1948 Earth · 1960 Metal · 1972 Water · 1984 Wood · 1996 Fire · 2008 Earth · 2020 Metal
The Rat in 2027
The Year of the Fire Goat gives the Rat 66/100 — a year for care. Read the 2027 forecast →
Questions about the 2008 zodiac
What Chinese zodiac animal is 2008?
2008 is the Year of the Rat — the Earth Rat (戊子). The Rat year runs from Feb 7, 2008 to Jan 25, 2009: it starts at Chinese New Year, not on January 1.
Is someone born in January 2008 a Rat?
Only if the birthday falls on or after Feb 7, 2008, when the Rat year began. From January 1 to Feb 6, 2008, the sign is still the Fire Pig of 2007.
What element is the 2008 Rat?
Earth. The year stem 戊 is yang earth, so everyone born in the 2008 Rat year is an Earth Rat. Earth brings steadiness, patience and practical sense.
When is the next Year of the Rat?
2032, starting Feb 11, 2032 — the Water Rat. The Earth Rat itself comes back every sixty years — 1948 and 2068.
Who is the Rat most compatible with?
The Rat’s best matches are the Ox (84/100), the Monkey (84/100) and the Dragon (72/100); the hardest are the Horse (32) and the Goat (33).
Nearby years
← 2007 Fire Pig · 2009 Earth Ox → · All years and the calculator
