Mahjong Glossary

Here are some common terms used when playing the game of mahjong.

Bamboos – Most common name given for one of the suits. Also referred to as Bones or Sticks
Bonus Tiles – These allow for bonus points
Characters – The western name given for one of the suits and is also sometimes referred to as Cracks or Ten Thousands
Chicken Hand – A hand that doesn’t give any points.
China Jade – A hand that consists of only green tiles.
Chow – A set of three tiles with the same suit in a sequence or run.
Circles – The western name given for one of the suits and is also sometimes referred to as Coins, Plates, Disks or Moons
Concealed – A tile or meld that has been complete from tiles drawn from the wall
Discard – To reject a card which can then be used by another player
Exposed – A tile or meld that was completed with a tile that was discarded from another player
Family Hand – A meld consisting of all three suits, winds and dragons.
Flower Tile – There are usually four of these in a set and are used to give points
Going Mahjong – Declaring a hand which is worth eight points or more.
Going Out – Same as Going Mahjong.
Head – A pair of tiles that is necessary in order to declare going mahjong.
Honor Tiles – Tiles consisting of Winds and Colors/Dragons.
Knitted Tiles – Tiles 1-4-7, 2-5-8 and 3-6-9 in different suits.
Kong – Four identical tiles.
Major Tiles – Tiles consisting of Honors and Terminals.
Minor Tiles – Tiles consisting of 2 through 8 in any suit.
Meld – A combination or set of tiles
Moons – Alternative name given for Circles
Open – Alternative name given for exposed
Pung – Three identical tiles which is sometimes referred to as Pong.
Self-drawn – A tile that has been drawn from the wall.
Set – A combination of tiles either chow, pung or kong.
Simples – Suit tiles which are not terminals.
Stepped – Chows separated by one or two numbers.
Sticks – Alternative name given for bamboo tiles.
Terminals – Tiles one and nine in any suit.
Twin Chows – Two chows of the same suit.
Void Suited Hand – A hand that doesn’t contain any tiles of one suit.
Wall – Tiles that are assembled face down at the beginning of the game which are drawn from during play.
Winds – Tiles that represent North, East, South and West which are associated with each player.