Chinese Rabbit sign: years, character and compatibility
The Rabbit, fourth animal of the Chinese zodiac: years, Wood element, symbolic portrait, the Moon rabbit, the Tu’er Ye figure, the Vietnamese cat and traditional compatibility.
Key points
| Chinese character | 兔 (tù) |
|---|---|
| Rank in the cycle | 4 of 12 |
| Earthly branch | 卯 (mǎo), yin polarity |
| Element of the branch | Wood |
| Traditional hour | 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. |
| Season and direction | Spring, east |
| Recent years | 1999, 2011, 2023 |
| Traditional trio | Rabbit, Goat, Pig |
The Rabbit in brief
The Rabbit is the fourth animal of the cycle and corresponds to the hour of sunrise, from five to seven in the morning, and to the spring equinox. The character 兔 refers to both the rabbit and the hare: here we choose “Rabbit”, but some authors speak of the Hare. In tradition, it evokes gentleness, refinement and caution, far from the image of a weak animal: it knows how to flee, but also how to bounce back.
Its Chinese name is 兔, pronounced tù. It corresponds to the earthly branch 卯 (mǎo), which has yin polarity and which carries, in the theory of the five phases, the element Wood. Be careful not to confuse this element of the animal with the element of your year of birth, which varies: see below. In the traditional division of the day, the branch 卯 designates the hour from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. It is linked to the season of spring and to the east on the traditional compass.
The years of the Rabbit (1936 to 2032)
Here are the years under the sign of the Rabbit, with the element of each and the exact dates (Chinese New Year, according to the tables of the Hong Kong Observatory). A person born in January or early February, before the date indicated, generally belongs to the previous sign.
| Year | Sign and element | Polarity | Period (from Chinese New Year to the eve of the next one) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | Earth Rabbit | yin | from 19 February 1939 to 7 February 1940 |
| 1951 | Metal Rabbit | yin | from 6 February 1951 to 26 January 1952 |
| 1963 | Water Rabbit | yin | from 25 January 1963 to 12 February 1964 |
| 1975 | Wood Rabbit | yin | from 11 February 1975 to 30 January 1976 |
| 1987 | Fire Rabbit | yin | from 29 January 1987 to 16 February 1988 |
| 1999 | Earth Rabbit | yin | from 16 February 1999 to 4 February 2000 |
| 2011 | Metal Rabbit | yin | from 3 February 2011 to 22 January 2012 |
| 2023 | Water Rabbit | yin | from 22 January 2023 to 9 February 2024 |
To understand this calculation, see the page on calculating the Chinese sign.
Symbolic portrait of the Rabbit
Tradition describes the Rabbit as delicate, diplomatic and attentive. It is associated with a taste for harmony, beauty and comfort, a keen sense of nuance, discretion and caution. The Rabbit avoids open conflict and prefers to go around an obstacle rather than run into it.
The symbolic downside: a reserve that becomes avoidance, a need for security that holds one back from daring, sensitivity to criticism, and a tendency to say yes in order not to displease. Popular portraits also mention a great talent for surrounding oneself with pleasant things. As always, these traits are images from tradition, not predictions of character.
A note: the image of the “timid rabbit” is mostly Western. In Chinese tradition, the Moon rabbit is associated with gentleness and longevity.
The Rabbit in Chinese culture
The jade rabbit. In Chinese myths, a rabbit lives on the Moon (yùtù, “jade rabbit”). It pounds herbs in a mortar, often to prepare the elixir of immortality, and keeps company with the goddess Chang’e, who also went to the Moon. This very old image in iconography is celebrated at the Mid-Autumn Festival. In Japan and Korea, the Moon rabbit pounds rice instead, to make cakes: the image has travelled and changed some details along the way.
Tu’er Ye, the “Lord Rabbit”. In Beijing, small clay figurines show a character with a rabbit’s head and a human body, often dressed in armour. According to the legend, when an epidemic struck the city, the goddess of the Moon sent her rabbit to bring help to the sick, and the inhabitants thanked it by making these figurines, offered at the Mid-Autumn Festival. There are several versions of the story and the details differ between sources: it is a popular tradition.
And in Vietnam? The Rabbit is not in the Vietnamese zodiac: the Cat takes its place. Two explanations circulate: the cat protects the harvests, and the old Chinese word for “rabbit” (mao) sounds like the Vietnamese word for “cat” (mèo).
The five Rabbits by element
In the sixty-year cycle, each animal successively receives each of the five elements. The portraits below are traditional symbolic nuances: they do not describe real personalities and are not universal.
| Variant | Years (1924 to 2043) | Symbolic nuance |
|---|---|---|
| Wood Rabbit | 1975, 2035 | Gentle, creative, sociable; its delicacy can lead it to give of itself without counting the cost. |
| Fire Rabbit | 1927, 1987 | More lively and expressive, charming; can be impatient when slowed down. |
| Earth Rabbit | 1939, 1999 | Calm, steady, attached to stability; so cautious that it delays its choices. |
| Metal Rabbit | 1951, 2011 | Refined and demanding, with a firmer bearing; hard to persuade once it has decided. |
| Water Rabbit | 1963, 2023 | Very intuitive and sensitive; absorbs the atmosphere, at the risk of being overwhelmed. |
Take the example of a Wood Rabbit year: the element of the year is Wood, while the element of the animal itself is Wood. Some schools look at how the two respond to each other (production, control, harmony). These are frameworks for reading, not verdicts.
Traditional compatibility of the Rabbit
Tradition compares the animals of two people by looking at their places on the circle of the twelve branches. For the Rabbit, here are the classic relationships.
| Traditional relationship | Animals concerned | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Trio of affinities (sanhe) | Rabbit, Goat and Pig | Three animals spaced four ranks apart, often presented as sharing the same momentum |
| Union (liuhe, “six harmonies”) | Rabbit and Dog | A pair of animals linked by tradition, seen as complementary |
| Opposition (liuchong) | Rabbit and Rooster | Two animals six ranks apart, facing each other on the circle: contrast, friction |
| Harm (liuhai) | Rabbit and Dragon | A link described as “troublesome”: possible misunderstandings, according to tradition |
These rules come from the theory of the branches and do not measure the value of a relationship: two people with “opposed” animals can get along very well, and two “united” animals can quarrel. Some sources add other relationships (“punishments”, “destructions”), which shows that these grids vary between schools. Keep them as a set of mirrors, never as a verdict on a couple, a friendship or a hiring decision.
To go further: questions for reflection
If you were born under this sign, or simply want to understand the image it carries, here are some questions to ask yourself, without expecting a right answer.
- What makes me feel at peace in my surroundings, and how can I protect it?
- In which situation did I say yes when I was thinking no?
- Where is my discretion useful to me, and where does it keep me from being heard?
- What small beautiful thing could I add to my week?
Like all Chinese astrology, the portrait of the Rabbit is a symbolic tradition: with no scientific proof, it predicts neither your character nor your future. For an overview, read the introduction to Chinese astrology.
Frequently asked questions
Which years are Rabbit years?
1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023 and 2035. The Water Rabbit year of 2023 began on 22 January 2023; the year of 1987 (Fire Rabbit) began on 29 January 1987.
Rabbit or hare?
The character 兔 refers to both animals. In French one mainly says “Lapin”, in English “Rabbit”, but “Lièvre” (hare) also appears, especially in the Vietnamese tradition and in certain ancient texts.
What is the element of the Rabbit?
The element proper to the Rabbit is Wood (branch 卯). The element of your year of birth varies: Fire in 1987, Earth in 1999, Metal in 2011, Water in 2023.
Which signs does the Rabbit traditionally get along with?
With the Goat and the Pig in the trio of affinities, and with the Dog in the traditional union. Its traditional opposite is the Rooster, and the Dragon is its “troublesome” sign. These are symbolic reference points.
Why does Vietnam have a cat instead of a rabbit?
Several explanations are proposed: the role of the cat in protecting crops, and the similar sound of the old Chinese word for rabbit and the Vietnamese word for cat. None is considered certain.
Also read
The meanings mentioned belong to tradition and symbolism. They are neither promises of results nor medical advice. Back to Chinese astrology.