Quick Answer: What Is the 2020 Chinese Zodiac Sign?
The 2020 Chinese zodiac (生肖, shēngxiào) is the Metal Rat from January 25, 2020 through February 11, 2021, inclusive. The year also has the calendar name Geng-Zi (庚子, Gēng-Zǐ).[1][2]
- Through January 24. Births from January 1 to 24, 2020 belong to the Earth Pig year.[1]
- The name Metal Rat. Geng gives the Metal element and Zi gives the Rat animal.[4]
- When the Rat ends. February 12, 2021 begins the Metal Ox year.[2]
This birth-sign lookup follows Lunar New Year. Some Four Pillars charts change years at Start of Spring (立春, Lìchūn).[3]
The Rat starts the twelve-animal sequence. In 2020 it began in late January, and the Rat year continued into February 2021.
Which 2020 and 2021 Birthdays Are Metal Rat Dates?
| Gregorian date of birth | Lunar New Year sign |
|---|---|
| January 1–24, 2020 | Earth Pig |
| January 25, 2020–February 11, 2021 | Metal Rat |
| February 12–December 31, 2021 | Metal Ox |
The 2020 calendar contains a regular fourth lunar month and a following leap fourth month. Adding that month helps keep the lunar calendar in step with the seasons. The animal remains Rat throughout both months.[1][3]
January 30, 2020 is Rat in the Lunar New Year system. Start of Spring fell on February 4, so the same birthday may appear as Pig in a chart that uses the solar term.[1][3][4]
How Geng-Zi and Wall Earth Read Differently
Geng is the Heavenly Stem (天干, tiāngān) for Yang Metal (阳金, yáng jīn) in Wuxing (五行, wǔxíng). Zi is the Earthly Branch (地支, dìzhī) for Rat (鼠, shǔ). The same Gan-Zhi (干支, gānzhī) pair identifies the 1960 Metal Rat, one 60-year cycle earlier.[3][4]
In Na Yin (纳音, nà yīn), the 2020 Metal Rat and the following Metal Ox share Wall Earth (壁上土, Bì Shàng Tǔ). The two year names each take Metal from their stem. The Wall Earth name applies to both years together.[4][5]
The Rat Mask and New Moon on a 2020 Stamp
A 2020 U.S. New Year stamp shows a mostly blue rat mask. Look at the circle in the center of its forehead. It represents the new moon that starts the lunar year. The animal motif identifies the year, while the circle refers to the calendar.[8]
Metal Rat descriptions often highlight quick judgment and resourcefulness. One 2020 profile lists 3 and 5 as lucky numbers and blue and white as lucky colors. Animal-level Rat compatibility charts often list the Ox, Dragon and Monkey as favorable matches.[4][6][7]
How the 2027 Goat Year Appears in Metal Rat Readings
One reading for children born in 2020 discusses family routines, growing independence and new friendships in 2027. An animal-relationship chart gives a mixed reading for the Rat in the Goat year. These interpretations reflect two different traditions: one organized around a birth cohort, the other around a recurring animal pairing.[4][6]
FAQs About the 2020 Chinese Zodiac
Is February 11, 2021 still a Metal Rat birthday?
Yes. The Metal Ox starts the next day, on February 12.[2]
Are 2008 Rats also Metal Rats?
They share the Rat branch. The 2008 stem gives Earth, while the 2020 stem gives Metal.[3][4]
Does a leap lunar month give 2020 a second zodiac animal?
No. The added lunar month stays within the Rat year. The next animal arrives with the next Lunar New Year.[1][2][3]
Sources
[1] Hong Kong Observatory. 2020 Gregorian–lunar calendar conversion table
[2] Hong Kong Observatory. 2021 Gregorian–lunar calendar conversion table
[3] Hong Kong Observatory. What year is it today?
[4] Zodiac Almanac. 2020 Metal Rat calendar labels and dated folk interpretation
[5] Liao Zhong. Wuxing Jingji, digital edition
[6] TravelChinaGuide. 2020 Metal Rat, lucky signs and 2027 reading
[7] China Highlights. Chinese zodiac compatibility chart
[8] U.S. Postal Service. Year of the Rat stamp and design notes