Mahjong Jargon – Your Comprehensive Guide

When it comes to the traditional Chinese game of Mahjong, there’s a whole bunch of unique language you need to understand. In this guide, I’ll break it down for you, going through the most common terms and expressions used in Mahjong.

1. Tiles

In Mahjong, tiles are the building blocks of the game. They come in various types, including suits, honors, and winds. Suits are divided into three categories: dots, bamboo, and characters. Honors represent special tiles like dragons and winds.

“What’s the deal with dots, bamboo, and characters?”

Good question! Dots are represented by circles and go from one to nine. Bamboo tiles depict bamboo stalks and also range from one to nine. Characters, on the other hand, display Chinese characters and again span from one to nine.

2. Sets

In Mahjong, the game revolves around the concept of sets. Sets can be either a meld or a pair. A meld refers to three tiles of the same suit and consecutive rank, while a pair consists of two identical tiles.

“Why do I need to know about melds and pairs?”

Great question! Melds and pairs are essential for completing the game. In order to win, you’ll need to collect sets of tiles, either by making melds or pairs.

3. Honor tiles

Honor tiles are unique tiles in Mahjong that hold a special status. They include winds and dragons. Winds tiles represent the four wind directions: East, South, West, and North. Dragon tiles, on the other hand, feature the symbols for red, green, and white dragons.

“What’s the deal with winds and dragons?”

Another great question! Winds tiles determine the seating positions of players and are crucial for strategic gameplay. Dragon tiles can be used in melds or as pairs and hold various point values.

4. Pungs and Kongs

A pung consists of three identical tiles, while a kong is made up of four identical tiles. Pungs and kongs are considered kinds of melds and are important for scoring points.

“What’s the difference between pungs and kongs?”

Good question! The main difference is the number of tiles involved – pungs have three tiles, while kongs have four. Additionally, kongs can be open or concealed, adding an extra layer of complexity to the game.

5. Riichi

Riichi is a special declaration made by a player in Mahjong. When a player declares riichi, it means they are ready to win, and their next discard will be their final tile. This declaration is accompanied by placing a stick vertically in front of the player.

“Why would someone declare riichi?”

Excellent question! By declaring riichi, a player can benefit from additional scoring opportunities and increase their chances of winning. It’s a strategic move that requires careful planning and observation.

Now that you have a better grasp of Mahjong jargon, you’ll be well-prepared to dive into this exciting game. Remember, practice makes perfect, so get those tiles ready and start playing!

Balls: These are tiles that have pictures of Balls numbered 1-9. There are thirty-six suit tiles in total. Bamboo: Similar to Balls, Bamboo tiles also have pictures numbered from 1 to 9. However, the 1 of Bamboo tile is depicted with a bird instead of a Bamboo stick. Again, there are thirty-six suit tiles in total. Bonus tile: This category is made up of tiles that feature Flowers and Seasons. Chow: A chow is a set that consists of three tiles from the same suit, numbered 1-9, that follow each other in sequence. Concealed: A concealed set is one that is kept hidden in a player’s hand. This is usually because the set was created when the player drew a tile from the Wall. Dealer: The dealer is the player who distributes the tiles to all the players at the beginning of the game and starts the game. Discard: This refers to the most recent tile that was placed in the middle of the Wall. It is the tile that a player has chosen to discard during their turn. Dragon: Dragons are Honor tiles that come in three colors: red, green, and white. There are a total of twelve Dragon tiles.

East is the player who hands out the tiles at the beginning of the game. They are also known as the dealer.

Flower is a special set of four tiles that correspond to each player’s Wind. They are also called Bonus tiles.

Honour tile is the name for tiles that include Winds and Dragons.

Kong is a group of four identical tiles.

Kong Box is a collection of tiles that is separated from the main Wall at the start of the game. These tiles are used when a player gets a Kong, Season, or Flower.

Mahjong is a winning hand that consists of four sets and a pair of the same tile. The first player to get this hand wins the game.

Major tile refers to any tile in the suits with a number 1 or 9.

Melded – When I play a tile that I have discarded or interrupt the game, I create a set called a melded set. This set is displayed openly in front of me, while the rest of my hand remains hidden.

Minor tile – A minor tile is any tile numbered from 2 to 8. They are an important part of the game.

Numbers – The numbers refer to thirty-six suit tiles in the game. These tiles have the Chinese character for ten thousand and are numbered from 1 to 9. They play a key role in gameplay.

Pair – A pair is made up of two identical tiles. Finding and using pairs strategically is crucial for success in the game.

Personal Wind – At the start of the game, each player is assigned a wind based on their position in relation to the dealer. This personal wind has an impact on the honor and bonus tiles that players can collect to earn more points.

Points – In the game, every player starts with 2,000 points. When a player wins a round, they collect points from the other players, increasing their score.

Pong – A pong is a set of three tiles that are identical. Creating pongs is an important skill to master in the game.

Let’s talk about some important concepts in the game of Mahjong:

Prevailing Wind: When we start a game of Mahjong, we choose a Prevailing Wind. This choice affects the Honor and Bonus tiles we can collect in order to get more points.

Season: In Mahjong, there are four different Seasons, each related to the Wind assigned to each player. We also call them Bonus tiles.

Set: A Set is a part of our hand in Mahjong. It can be a Chow, Pong, or Kong.

Tally: The Tally is used at the end of the game to calculate the points earned by the winning player.

Terminal tile: Sometimes, we also call a Major tile a Terminal tile. These are tiles numbered 1 or 9 in any suit.

Wall: At the beginning of the game, the dealer creates a square Wall. It has two piles of tiles and is 18 tiles long. During the game, we draw tiles from the Wall.

Wind: There are 16 specific tiles in Mahjong called Wind tiles. Each tile represents one of the four cardinal directions. Collecting our Personal Wind tiles can help us earn more points.