1912 Chinese Zodiac: Year of the Water Rat

1912 is the Year of the Water Rat — a Yang Water year. The animal sign is the Rat, the first of the 12-animal cycle.

1912 carries the Water element (Yang Water). Element is set by the year's heavenly stem and cycles every 10 years, so the full Water Rat combination returns only once every 60 years.

Those born in 1912, the Year of the Rat, are traditionally described as quick-witted, resourceful, and adaptable. With the Water element added, intuition, adaptability, and empathy are emphasised.

The Rat is traditionally most compatible with the Dragon, Monkey, Ox.

Almost — but the Chinese zodiac year starts at Chinese New Year (late January or early February), not January 1. So someone born in early 1912, before that year's Chinese New Year, is actually a Pig (the 1911 sign). If your birthday is in late January or early February, enter your full date of birth in the Age Calculator to confirm your exact sign.