also: じんし
noun
Water Rat (49th sexagenary term)
The 49th term of the traditional 60-term sexagenary cycle, combining the Heavenly Stem 壬 (Water, Yang) and the Earthly Branch 子 (Rat). Used in East Asian calendars and astrology; corresponds to years such as 1912, 1972, 2032.
See also: 干支
壬子の年は、十干十二支の49番目にあたる。
The year of the Water Rat is the 49th in the sexagenary cycle.
次の壬子は2032年です。
The next Water Rat year is 2032.
干支 is the general term for the sexagenary cycle or the Chinese zodiac signs; 壬子 is one specific term within that cycle.
From the combination of the Heavenly Stem 壬 (みずのえ, 'Water Elder Brother') and the Earthly Branch 子 (ね, 'Rat'), forming the 49th sexagenary term. The Sino-Japanese reading じんし derives from the on'yomi of the two characters.