Many people who want to start playing mahjong think, “The rules seem too complex…” Today, we’ll explain the basic structure of mahjong in a way that’s easy for beginners to understand.
What Kind of Game is Mahjong?
Mahjong is a game played by 4 players using tiles. Tiles in mahjong are equivalent to cards in card games. Players compete for rankings based on their final point totals.
Learning the Types of Tiles
Suit Tiles 用語の説明が見つかりません - Tiles with Numbers
Mahjong has three basic suits, each with numbers 1-9:
Characters (Man) 用語の説明が見つかりません
Tiles with Chinese numerals written on them.
Dots (Pin) 用語の説明が見つかりません
Tiles with circular patterns (the number of circles represents the number).
Bamboo (Sou) 用語の説明が見つかりません
Tiles with stick-like patterns (the number of sticks represents the number).
Honor Tiles 用語の説明が見つかりません - Tiles with Kanji Characters
There are 7 types of special tiles without numbers:
Wind Tiles 用語の説明が見つかりません
(East - Ton)
(South - Nan)
(West - Shaa)
(North - Pei)
Dragon Tiles 用語の説明が見つかりません
(White - Haku)
(Green - Hatsu)
(Red - Chun)
How to Read Tiles
Mahjong uses Chinese-derived pronunciations for numbers:
| Number | Reading | Example (Characters) | Example (Dots) | Example (Bamboo) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ii | Iiman | Iipin | Iisou |
| 2 | Ryan | Ryanman | Ryanpin | Ryansou |
| 3 | San | Sanman | Sanpin | Sansou |
| 4 | Suu | Suuman | Suupin | Suusou |
| 5 | Uu | Uuman | Uupin | Uusou |
| 6 | Rou | Rouman | Roumin | Rousou |
| 7 | Chii | Chiiman | Chiipin | Chiisou |
| 8 | Paa | Paaman | Paapin | Paasou |
| 9 | Kyuu | Kyuuman | Kyuupin | Kyuusou |
The Objective of the Game
The goal is to complete a hand of “4 sets 用語の説明が見つかりません and 1 pair 用語の説明が見つかりません ” with 14 tiles.
What is a Set 用語の説明が見つかりません ?
A set consists of 3 tiles and comes in two types:
Sequence (Shuntsu) 用語の説明が見つかりません
Three consecutive numbered tiles of the same suit.
Examples:
(Ii-Ryan-Sanman)
(Suu-Uu-Roumin)
(Chii-Paa-Kyuusou)
Triplet (Koutsu) 用語の説明が見つかりません
Three identical tiles.
Examples:
- (Uuman triplet)
- (East triplet)
- (Chiipin triplet)
What is a Pair 用語の説明が見つかりません ?
A pair is two identical tiles.
Examples:
- (Sanpin pair)
- (Hatsu pair)
- (Paasou pair)
Basic Game Flow
1. Starting Hand 用語の説明が見つかりません
Each player is dealt 13 tiles.
2. Draw 用語の説明が見つかりません
On your turn, draw one tile from the wall (your hand becomes 14 tiles).
3. Discard 用語の説明が見つかりません
Discard one unwanted tile (your hand returns to 13 tiles).
4. Winning 用語の説明が見つかりません
The first player to complete “4 sets and 1 pair” wins.
Complete hand example:
- Set 1:
- Set 2:
- Set 3:
- Set 4:
- Pair:
Determining Winners
Point System
- At the start of the game, all players begin with the same points (usually 25,000 points)
- Completing “4 sets and 1 pair” increases your points
- Only the first player to complete the hand gains points
- The player with the most points at the end ranks first
Determining Rankings
- 1st Place: Player with the most points
- 2nd Place: Player with the second-most points
- 3rd Place: Player with the third-most points
- 4th Place: Player with the fewest points
What Beginners Should Learn First
Step 1: Learn the Tiles
First, learn to distinguish all 34 types of tiles. It’s especially important to memorize the numbered tiles 1-9.
Step 2: Understand Set Formations
Learn the difference between sequences (3 consecutive tiles) and triplets (3 identical tiles).
Step 3: Experience the Basic Flow
Get hands-on experience with the flow of drawing and discarding tiles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is mahjong difficult?
A: The basic rules are simple. It takes time to memorize the tile types at first, but you’ll naturally remember them with practice.
Q: Where can I learn mahjong?
A: We recommend practicing with online mahjong games or smartphone apps. Starting with CPU matches allows you to learn at your own pace.
Q: Is scoring calculation difficult?
A: Start by using apps or games with automatic scoring. Once you learn the basics, you can gradually learn scoring calculation.
Summary
Mahjong basics:
- A 4-player game where players compete for points using tiles
- Create a hand of “4 sets and 1 pair” with 14 tiles
- The first player to complete gains points
- Final rankings are determined by point totals
Start by learning the tile types and their pronunciations. As you become familiar, you’ll discover the strategic depth of deciding which tiles to keep and which to discard.
Reference Video: Mahjong Rules Explanation for Complete Beginners A thorough and easy-to-understand explanation video by Akuriarin. Please watch if you want to learn in more detail.