Stellune
The Rabbit is the fourth animal of the Chinese zodiac and the zodiac’s peacemaker. Rabbits are gentle, tactful and quick-witted, with good taste and a strong need for calm and comfort.
The Rabbit personality
Rabbits read a room quickly and know how to keep the peace. They’re kind, refined and careful, and they think before they leap. Behind the softness is a sharp, strategic mind.
Strengths: kindness, tact, good judgement, elegance.
Blind spots: avoiding conflict, worrying, and hiding their real feelings to keep the peace.
Rabbit years
You’re a Rabbit if you were born in one of these years, on or after that year’s Chinese New Year:
| Year | Element | New Year began |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | Metal Rabbit | 6 February 1951 |
| 1963 | Water Rabbit | 25 January 1963 |
| 1975 | Wood Rabbit | 11 February 1975 |
| 1987 | Fire Rabbit | 29 January 1987 |
| 1999 | Earth Rabbit | 16 February 1999 |
| 2011 | Metal Rabbit | 3 February 2011 |
| 2023 | Water Rabbit | 22 January 2023 |
The next Rabbit year is 2035, a Wood Rabbit, starting on 8 February 2035. Born in January or February? Check with the Chinese zodiac calculator.
The five kinds of Rabbit
Each Rabbit year also has an element, which colours the Rabbit’s nature. The Rabbit’s own fixed element is Wood.
- Wood Rabbit: the gentlest Rabbit: generous and easy-going.
- Fire Rabbit: the most expressive Rabbit, warm, lively and sociable.
- Earth Rabbit: practical and grounded, with good sense about money.
- Metal Rabbit: the most determined Rabbit, ambitious beneath the calm.
- Water Rabbit: intuitive and sensitive, a deep feeler.
Rabbit compatibility
| Kind of match | Animals |
|---|---|
| Best friends (same trine) | Goat, Pig |
| Secret friend | Dog |
| Opposite (clash) | Rooster |
| Tricky pairing | Dragon |
The Goat and Pig share your values and pace. The Dog is your quiet, steady ally. The Rooster is your opposite: lots of spark, and lots of friction. Check any pairing with the Chinese zodiac compatibility calculator.
The Rabbit at work and in love
Rabbits do well in work that needs taste, tact or care: design, diplomacy, counselling, teaching, hospitality, law and the arts. In love, Rabbits are tender, attentive and loyal. They need a partner who’s gentle, steady and willing to talk things through calmly.
The Rabbit in 2026 and 2027
The 2026 Fire Horse year is a neutral year for the Rabbit: steady, with no strong pull either way, so what you put in is what you get out. The 2027 Fire Goat year, which begins on 6 February 2027, is a best-friend year for the Rabbit: its energy runs with yours, so it’s a good year to push ahead with plans.
Questions people ask
What years are the Rabbit in the Chinese zodiac?
1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023 and 2035, each counted from that year’s Chinese New Year.
Who is the Rabbit most compatible with?
The Goat and Pig (its trine partners) and the Dog (its secret friend).
Which animal does the Rabbit clash with?
The Rooster, which sits opposite the Rabbit on the zodiac wheel. A clash means different needs and pace, not a match that can’t work.
What is the Rabbit's element?
Each Rabbit year has its own element, and the Rabbit’s fixed element is Wood.
Astrology here is for reflection and self-understanding. It doesn't predict events, and it isn't medical, legal or financial advice.