What is Pinzu?
Pinzu (Circle Tiles), also called “dots,” is one of the three numbered suits in mahjong, featuring circular patterns (○). It includes 1-pin through 9-pin, with 4 tiles of each for 36 total tiles.
The circles represent ancient Chinese coins with holes in the center. The suit is sometimes called “binzu” in reference to this coin origin.
Pinzu Tile List
| Tile | Reading | Pattern | Notable Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-pin | Ii-pin | 1 large circle | Often has bird design |
| 2-pin | Ryan-pin | 2 circles | Green circles |
| 3-pin | San-pin | 3 circles | Diagonal arrangement |
| 4-pin | Suu-pin | 4 circles | Corner arrangement |
| 5-pin | Uu-pin | 5 circles | Red center (may be aka dora) |
| 6-pin | Roo-pin | 6 circles | 3×2 arrangement |
| 7-pin | Chii-pin | 7 circles | Unique pattern |
| 8-pin | Paa-pin | 8 circles | 4×2 arrangement |
| 9-pin | Kyuu-pin | 9 circles | 3×3 grid |
Design Characteristics
Pinzu features:
1. Color palette
- Mainly green, red, and blue
- 1-pin often has elaborate design
2. Pattern visibility
- Easy to count circles
- Regular arrangements
3. Classifications
- Terminal: 1-pin, 9-pin
- Simple: 2-pin through 8-pin
- Red dora: 5-pin (if applicable)Recognition Tips
For Beginners
-
Count the circles
- Memorize common patterns
- Watch for 7-pin vs 8-pin confusion
-
Use color cues
- Red circles in 1, 5, 7
- Green and blue in others
-
Learn shapes
- 4-pin: square corners
- 5-pin: cross pattern
- 9-pin: 3×3 grid
Common Mistakes
| Mistake | Details | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| 7 vs 8 confusion | Similar patterns | 7 has center dot |
| 1-pin design | Not just a circle | Often ornate bird |
| Missing aka dora | Red 5-pin | Check for red center |
| Pronunciation | ”Pinzu” not “Pintsu” | Individual: “~pin” |
Yaku Using Pinzu
| Yaku | How Pinzu is Used |
|---|---|
| Chinitsu | All pinzu hand |
| Ittsu | 123-456-789 in pinzu |
| Tanyao | 2-8 pinzu only |
| Pinfu | Pinzu ryanmen wait |
Related Terms
- Manzu: Character suit
- Souzu: Bamboo suit
- Chunchanpai: Simple tiles (2-8)
- Routouhai: Terminal tiles (1, 9)
Summary
Pinzu (circle tiles) feature distinctive circular patterns, making them visually easy to recognize. Count the circles and memorize the arrangement patterns to quickly identify each tile. Along with manzu and souzu, understanding pinzu is fundamental to efficient hand-building in mahjong.