What is Manzu?
Manzu (Characters) is one of the three numbered suit tiles in mahjong, featuring Chinese numerals from 1 to 9. The name comes from the Chinese character “萬” (wan/man) meaning “ten thousand.” Each number has 4 tiles, totaling 36 manzu tiles.
While the formal reading is “wanzu” from Chinese, “manzu” is commonly used in Japanese mahjong.
Manzu Tiles and Readings
| Tile | Formal Name | Common Name | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-man | Ii-wan | Ichi-man | 4 |
| 2-man | Ryan-wan | Ni-man | 4 |
| 3-man | San-wan | San-man | 4 |
| 4-man | Suu-wan | Yon-man | 4 |
| 5-man | Uu-wan | Go-man | 4 |
| 6-man | Rou-wan | Roku-man | 4 |
| 7-man | Chii-wan | Nana-man | 4 |
| 8-man | Paa-wan | Hachi-man | 4 |
| 9-man | Kyuu-wan | Kyuu-man | 4 |
The Three Suit Types
Mahjong has three types of numbered suit tiles:
- Manzu (Characters): Chinese numerals
- Pinzu (Dots): Circle patterns
- Souzu (Bamboos): Bamboo patterns
Characteristics of Manzu
- Written in red Chinese characters (typically)
- Familiar to those who can read Chinese numerals
- 1-man and 9-man are terminal tiles (routouhai)
- 2-man through 8-man are simple tiles (chunchanpai)
Yaku Using Manzu
| Yaku | Description |
|---|---|
| Tanyao | Use only 2-8 manzu (and other simples) |
| Chinitsu | Complete hand using only manzu |
| Ittsu | Make 123, 456, 789 in manzu |
| Honroutou | Use 1-man, 9-man and honor tiles |
Related Terms
- Pinzu: Dot/circle suit tiles
- Souzu: Bamboo suit tiles
- Chunchanpai: Simple tiles (2-8)
Common Mistakes
- Reading confusion: Formal readings (wan) vs common readings (man)
- Missing red fives: The 5-man often has a red dora version
- Role misunderstanding: Just collecting manzu doesn’t make a yaku - you need specific patterns like chinitsu
Summary
Manzu is one of the fundamental suit tiles in mahjong, featuring Chinese numerals that make them easy to recognize. As a beginner, focus on distinguishing manzu, pinzu, and souzu clearly. Understanding manzu characteristics will help you build effective hands and recognize scoring opportunities.