What is Routouhai?
Routouhai (Terminal Tiles) refers to the 1 and 9 tiles of each numbered suit in mahjong. This includes 1-man, 9-man, 1-pin, 9-pin, 1-sou, and 9-sou - 6 types with 4 tiles each, totaling 24 tiles.
The name means “old head tiles” - they sit at the ends (heads) of the number sequence. While harder to use in sequences, they’re essential for high-scoring hands.
Terminal Tiles List
| Suit | Terminals | Reading | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manzu | 1-man | Ii-wan | 4 |
| Manzu | 9-man | Kyuu-wan | 4 |
| Pinzu | 1-pin | Ii-pin | 4 |
| Pinzu | 9-pin | Kyuu-pin | 4 |
| Souzu | 1-sou | Ii-sou | 4 |
| Souzu | 9-sou | Kyuu-sou | 4 |
| Total | 6 types | - | 24 |
Characteristics
-
Limited sequence options
- Can only form 123 or 789
- One-sided connection
-
Relatively safe defensively
- Often discarded early
- But watch for special hands
-
Key to high-scoring hands
- Honroutou, Junchan, Kokushi
- Master them for big points
Tile Classifications
| Category | Tiles | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| Routouhai | 1 & 9 number tiles | Part of yaochuuhai |
| Jihai | Honor tiles | Part of yaochuuhai |
| Yaochuuhai | Terminals + Honors | 1, 9, and honor tiles |
| Chunchanpai | 2-8 number tiles | Opposite of terminals |
Yaku Using Terminal Tiles
| Yaku | Terminal Usage | Han |
|---|---|---|
| Honroutou | Only terminals + honors | 2 han |
| Junchan | All sets contain terminals | 3 han (2 open) |
| Chanta | All sets contain yaochuuhai | 2 han (1 open) |
| Chinroutou | Only terminals (yakuman) | Yakuman |
| Kokushi | All yaochuuhai types | Yakuman |
Strategic Options with Many Terminals
When dealt many terminal tiles:
- Honroutou route: Terminals + honors in triplets
- Chanta route: Sequences containing terminals
- Kokushi route: Collect all yaochuuhai types
Related Terms
- Chunchanpai: Simple tiles (2-8)
- Yaochuuhai: Terminals + honors
- Jihai: Honor tiles
Summary
Routouhai (terminal tiles) are the 1s and 9s of each suit. While seemingly awkward to use due to limited sequence options, they’re crucial for high-scoring hands like Honroutou, Junchan, and even yakuman like Chinroutou and Kokushi. Learn to evaluate your terminal tile count at the start of each hand to decide your strategic direction.