What are Suupai?
Suupai (Number Tiles) are the numbered 1-9 tiles in three suits: Manzu (characters), Pinzu (circles), and Souzu (bamboo). With 9 tiles per suit × 4 copies each × 3 suits, there are 108 number tiles - about 79% of all mahjong tiles.
Number tiles are the only tiles that can form sequences (shuntsu), making them the foundation of most hands.
The Three Suits
| Suit | Reading | Symbol | Tiles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manzu | Characters | 萬 (wan) | 1m-9m |
| Pinzu | Circles/Dots | 筒 (pin) | 1p-9p |
| Souzu | Bamboo/Sticks | 索 (sou) | 1s-9s |
Number Tile Classifications
Three categories:
1. Terminal tiles (Routouhai)
- 1 and 9 of each suit
- Edge tiles, limited use
- Can't use in Tanyao
2. Simple tiles (Chunchanpai)
- 2 through 8 of each suit
- Most versatile
- Tanyao foundation
3. Suji relationships
- 1-4-7, 2-5-8, 3-6-9
- Ryanmen wait basisTile Value by Number
| Number | Value | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Highest | Connects to 4 tile types |
| 4, 6 | High | Adjacent to 5 |
| 3, 7 | Medium | 3 connection types |
| 2, 8 | Lower | Near terminals |
| 1, 9 | Lowest | Only 1 connection type |
Melds from Number Tiles
| Meld Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Shuntsu | Sequential 3 | 1-2-3 |
| Koutsu | Triplet | 5-5-5 |
| Kantsu | Quad | 7-7-7-7 |
| Toitsu | Pair | 3-3 |
Readings Reference
Manzu (Characters)
1-man: Ii-wan
2-man: Ryan-wan
3-man: San-wan
4-man: Suu-wan
5-man: Uu-wan
6-man: Roo-wan
7-man: Chii-wan
8-man: Paa-wan
9-man: Kyuu-wanPinzu (Circles)
1-pin: Ii-pin
2-pin: Ryan-pin
3-pin: San-pin
4-pin: Suu-pin
5-pin: Uu-pin
6-pin: Roo-pin
7-pin: Chii-pin
8-pin: Paa-pin
9-pin: Kyuu-pinSouzu (Bamboo)
1-sou: Ii-sou
2-sou: Ryan-sou
3-sou: San-sou
4-sou: Suu-sou
5-sou: Uu-sou
6-sou: Roo-sou
7-sou: Chii-sou
8-sou: Paa-sou
9-sou: Kyuu-souYaku Using Number Tiles
| Yaku | Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tanyao | Only 2-8 tiles | Most common |
| Pinfu | All sequences | Ryanmen required |
| Sanshoku | Same sequence in 3 suits | Mid-level |
| Ittsu | 1-9 in one suit | Advanced |
| Chinitsu | Single suit only | High value |
Suji Theory
| Suji Set | Tiles | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| 1-4-7 | Ii-suu-chii | If 4 passes, 1&7 safer |
| 2-5-8 | Ryan-uu-paa | If 5 passes, 2&8 safer |
| 3-6-9 | San-roo-kyuu | If 6 passes, 3&9 safer |
Common Mistakes
-
Pronunciation errors
- 1-man ≠ “ichi-man” (use “ii-wan”)
- Pinzu ≠ “tsutsuko” (use “pinzu”)
-
Sequence rules
- 9-1-2 doesn’t connect
- Different suits can’t form sequences
- Must be same suit, consecutive
-
Value misjudgment
- 5 is most valuable, not 1 or 9
- 1 and 9 are hardest to use
Strategy Tips
Early Game
Priority order:
1. Cut isolated 1s and 9s
2. Cut 2s and 8s early
3. Keep 3-7 range
4. Build around 5s
5. Maintain suit cohesionRelated Terms
- Jihai: Honor tiles (non-numbered)
- Chunchanpai: Simple tiles (2-8)
- Routouhai: Terminal tiles (1, 9)
- Shuntsu: Sequence meld
- Tanyao: All-simples yaku
Summary
Number tiles (suupai) comprise the three suits numbered 1-9, making up about 80% of all tiles. They’re the only tiles that can form sequences, making them essential for most hands. Learn the readings, understand that 5s are most valuable while 1s and 9s are hardest to use, and build your hands around the versatile middle tiles for efficient mahjong.