What are Yaochuuhai? Terminals and Honors (1, 9, Honor Tiles) Explained for Beginners

What are Yaochuuhai (Terminals and Honors)?

Yaochuuhai (么九牌) is the collective term for numbered tiles 1 and 9, and honor tiles (East, South, West, North, White, Green, Red) in mahjong. “Yao” means 1, “chuu” means 9, totaling 13 types and 52 tiles.

Yaochuuhai are difficult to handle as they don’t easily form sequences, but are indispensable for certain high-scoring yaku. They can’t be used in tanyao (all simples), but become essential in yaku like honroutou, chinroutou, and kokushi musou.

Detailed Explanation of Yaochuuhai

Yaochuuhai Breakdown

13 types of yaochuuhai:

Terminal tiles (6 types):
:1m::9m: :1p::9p: :1s::9s:

Honor tiles (7 types):
:1z::2z::3z::4z: :5z::6z::7z:

Total: 13 types × 4 each = 52 tiles

Yaochuuhai Characteristics

Feature	Content	Impact
No sequences	Honors can’t form sequences	Difficult sets
Terminal limits	1 only with 23, 9 only with 78	Limited combinations
Triplet-focused	Mainly triplets and quads	Hand becomes heavy
High-scoring yaku	Required for specific yaku	Strategic value

Comparison with Simples

Tile type	Tiles	Count	Characteristics
Yaochuuhai	1,9,honors	52	Difficult but high points
Simples	2-8 numbered	84	Easy to handle, basic

Usage Examples

Real Game Situations

Example 1: Basic Usage

"Many yaochuuhai"
"Discard yaochuuhai"
"Build with yaochuuhai"

Example 2: Strategic Conversation

"Tanyao, so discard yaochuuhai"
"Collect yaochuuhai for honroutou"
"Process yaochuuhai early"

Example 3: Regarding Yaku

"Chanta requires yaochuuhai"
"No yaochuuhai means tanyao"
"Kokushi needs all 13 yaochuuhai types"

Chunchanpai: 2-8 numbered tiles (simples)
Routouhai: Only 1 and 9 tiles
Jihai: Honor tiles (East-South-West-North-White-Green-Red)
Tanyao: Yaku not using yaochuuhai
Chanta: Yaku including yaochuuhai in all sets

Common Mistakes and Points to Note

Points Beginners Often Mistake

Confusing with routouhai
- Yaochuuhai: 1, 9, honors
- Routouhai: Only 1, 9
- Difference in honor inclusion
Tile count misunderstanding
- 13 types × 4 = 52 tiles
- About 38% of all 136 tiles
- Surprisingly many
Value misunderstanding
- Not simply weak tiles
- Key to high-scoring yaku
- Value changes by situation
Handling in tanyao
- Even 1 tile makes tanyao impossible
- Same after calling
- Complete elimination needed

Strategic Value of Yaochuuhai

Utilization in Yaku

Yaku requiring yaochuuhai:
1. Required yaku
   - Honroutou (all terminals/honors)
   - Chinroutou (all terminals)
   - Kokushi musou (thirteen orphans)

2. Partially required
   - Chanta (mixed outside hand)
   - Junchan (terminals in all sets)
   - Honitsu/chinitsu + terminals

Specific Yaku Examples

Yaku name	Required yaochuuhai	Points
Kokushi	All 13 types	Yakuman
Chinroutou	Only 1,9 in triplets	Yakuman
Honroutou	Only triplets/pairs	2 han
Chanta	In each set	2 han (1 when open)

How to Handle Yaochuuhai

Early Game Processing

Basic priority:
1. Isolated honors
   - Non-yakuhai first
   - Guest winds → other winds

2. Isolated 1, 9
   - No related tiles
   - Low sequence possibility

3. Yaku possibility
   - Keep if 2+ tiles
   - Consider chanta, etc.

Situation-Based Judgment

Hand situation	Policy	Reason
Many simples	Discard yaochuuhai	Aim for tanyao
Many yaochuuhai	Utilize them	Chanta, honroutou
Bad starting hand	Consider kokushi	One-shot reversal

Yaochuuhai Combinations

Easy Sets to Make

Sets with yaochuuhai:
1. Triplets/quads
   :1m::1m::1m: :1z::1z::1z:

2. Terminal sequences
   :1m::2m::3m: :7s::8s::9s:

3. Pairs (head)
   :9p::9p: :6z::6z:

Difficult Patterns

Pattern	Reason	Solution
Honor sequences	Impossible	Triplets only
1 ryanmen	Only 23 available	Treat as kanchan
9 ryanmen	Only 78 available	Treat as kanchan

Yaochuuhai and Defense

Safety Considerations

Yaochuuhai safety:
1. Honor tiles
   - Fresh tiles relatively safe
   - Especially guest winds
   - But watch for kokushi

2. 1, 9 tiles
   - Safe early game
   - Caution mid-game onward
   - Watch for chanta

Reading Opponent’s Hand

Discards	Inference	Yaku to watch
Keeping honors	Yaochuuhai system	Honitsu, yakuhai
Only simples	Using terminals/honors	Chanta, kokushi
No 1, 9 discards	Aiming pure outside	Junchan

Yaochuuhai Probability

Starting Hand Occurrence

Expected value in 13-tile hand:
- Yaochuuhai: About 5 tiles
- Simples: About 8 tiles

Yaochuuhai ratio:
52 tiles / 136 tiles = About 38.2%

Yaku Occurrence Comparison

Yaku name	Occurrence	Yaochuuhai relation
Tanyao	About 22%	Not used
Chanta	About 1%	Required in all sets
Honroutou	About 0.06%	Only use these
Kokushi	About 0.04%	Need all 13 types

Yaochuuhai Usage Examples

When Giving Up Tanyao

Hand example:
:1m::2m::3m: :4p::5p: :7s::8s::9s: :1z::1z: :5z::5z::5z:

Decision: Strong yaochuuhai
→ Aim for chanta or honitsu

Converting to Kokushi

Starting hand example:
:1m::9m: :1p::9p: :1s: :1z::2z::3z::4z: :5z::6z::7z: :5m:

Decision: 10 yaochuuhai types
→ Consider kokushi musou

Practical Points

Identifying Yaochuuhai

Phase	Criteria	Action
Starting hand	5+ tiles	Consider using
Early game	Isolated tiles	Discard early
Mid game	Yaku possibility	Judge by situation
Late game	Defense priority	Check safety

Efficient Usage

Yaochuuhai utilization rules:
1. Quick decision
   - Tanyao or not
   - Decide policy early

2. Consider yaku
   - Chanta possibility
   - Secure yakuhai

3. Consider defense
   - Read opponent hands
   - Understand danger levels

Conclusion

Yaochuuhai are the collective term for numbered tiles 1 and 9 and honor tiles, totaling 13 types and 52 tiles. While difficult to handle as they don’t easily form sequences, they’re indispensable for certain high-scoring yaku.

Beginners should first learn the basics: “yaochuuhai = terminals and honors,” completely eliminate them when aiming for tanyao, but actively utilize them for chanta or kokushi musou. It’s important to decide your strategy for the round based on the number of yaochuuhai in your starting hand.