Mahjong Glossary
Clear explanations of mahjong terminology
From beginner to advanced, understand every term instantly
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What are Sangenpai
Comprehensive explanation of sangenpai (dragon tiles) in mahjong - white, green, and red. Learn their meaning, characteristics, relationship with yaku, and strategic usage for beginners.
What are Yaochuuhai
Comprehensive explanation of yaochuuhai (terminals and honors) in mahjong. Learn which tiles are included, strategic usage, related yaku for beginners.
Agari
Comprehensive explanation of agari (winning hand), mahjong's ultimate goal. Learn about the basic 4 sets + 1 pair structure, differences between tsumo and ron, yaku requirements, and more for beginners.
Baiman
Comprehensive explanation of baiman, the 8-10 han scoring tier in mahjong. Learn the required han, point values, how to build baiman hands, and occurrence frequency for beginners.
Betaori
Comprehensive explanation of betaori (complete fold), a defensive mahjong tactic. Learn the meaning, methods, when to fold completely, and judgment criteria for beginners.
Chankan
Comprehensive explanation of chankan (robbing the kan) in mahjong, the special yaku for winning when an opponent declares added kan. Learn the conditions, strategic considerations, and the kokushi exception for beginners.
Chi
Comprehensive explanation of chi (calling for sequences), one of mahjong's tile calls. Learn the meaning, method, conditions, merits/demerits, and strategic usage for beginners.
Chiitoitsu
Comprehensive explanation of chiitoitsu (seven pairs) in mahjong, the special 2-han yaku. Learn the conditions, building tips, unique scoring rules, and strategic approaches for beginners.
Chinitsu
Comprehensive explanation of chinitsu (full flush) in mahjong, the 6-han yaku made with only one suit. Learn the conditions, menzen vs called differences, comparison with honitsu, and strategic tips for beginners.
Chinroutou
Comprehensive explanation of chinroutou (all terminals) in mahjong, the yakuman made entirely of 1 and 9 suited tiles. Learn the conditions, differences from honroutou, and strategic tips for beginners.
Daisangen
Comprehensive explanation of daisangen (big three dragons), a mahjong yakuman. Learn requirements for making triplets from all three dragons (white, green, red), responsibility payment rules, and building strategies for beginners.
Daisuushii
Comprehensive explanation of daisuushii (big four winds), one of the most difficult mahjong yakuman. Learn requirements for making triplets from all four winds (East, South, West, North), double yakuman treatment, differences from shousuushii, and building strategies for beginners.
Damaten
Comprehensive explanation of damaten (silent tenpai) in mahjong, including the difference from riichi, advantages and disadvantages, and when to use it for beginners.
Dora
Comprehensive explanation of dora, a crucial mahjong element. Learn the meaning, types (omote-dora, ura-dora, kan-dora, aka-dora), how to read dora indicators, and strategic usage for beginners.
Double Riichi
Comprehensive explanation of double riichi in mahjong, the 2-han yaku for declaring riichi on your very first draw. Learn the conditions, differences from normal riichi, and strategic tips for beginners.
Double Yakuman
Comprehensive explanation of double yakuman in mahjong, special yakuman worth twice the points. Learn conditions for 2x scoring, representative examples like suuankou tanki, junsei chuuren poutou, and daisuushii for beginners.
Fu
Comprehensive explanation of fu (符), important in mahjong scoring. Learn the meaning, calculation method, memorization tips, and more for beginners.
Furiten
Comprehensive explanation of furiten, an important rule in mahjong. Learn the meaning, three types (discard furiten, same-turn furiten, post-riichi furiten), and how to avoid it for beginners.
Fuuro
Comprehensive explanation of fuuro (calling/melding) in mahjong, including meaning, types, advantages and disadvantages, and strategic decision-making for beginners.
Genbutsu
Comprehensive explanation of genbutsu (actual tiles), the foundation of mahjong defense. Learn meaning, absolute safety, defensive methods using genbutsu for beginners.
Gukei Machi
Comprehensive explanation of gukei machi (bad shape wait) in mahjong, including kanchan, penchan, and tanki waits. Learn the characteristics of bad waits and methods to improve them for beginners.
Hai-Koritsu
Comprehensive explanation of hai-koritsu (tile efficiency), the most important mahjong concept. Learn the meaning, basic principles, and improvement methods for beginners.
Haitei
Comprehensive explanation of haitei (last tile) in mahjong. Learn the meaning, rules about the last tile, relationship with haitei moy ue and houtei raoyue for beginners.
Haitei
Comprehensive explanation of haitei moyue (under the sea) in mahjong, the 1-han yaku for winning with the last tile from the wall. Learn the conditions, relationship with haitei, and strategic tips for beginners.
Han
Comprehensive explanation of han (翻), the most important element in mahjong scoring. Learn the meaning, counting method, relationship with yaku, mangan system, and more for beginners.
Haneman
Comprehensive explanation of haneman, the 6-7 han scoring tier in mahjong. Learn the point values, how to build haneman hands, and the difference from mangan for beginners.
Honchantaiyaochuu
Comprehensive explanation of honchantaiyaochuu (chanta), a 2-han mahjong yaku. Learn establishment conditions, building tips, differences from junchan for beginners.
Honitsu
Comprehensive explanation of honitsu (half flush) in mahjong, the 3-han yaku made with one suit plus honor tiles. Learn the conditions, menzen vs called differences, comparison with chinitsu, and strategic tips for beginners.
Honroutou
Comprehensive explanation of honroutou in mahjong, the 2-han yaku made entirely of terminals and honors. Learn the conditions, toitoi combination, differences from chinroutou, and strategic tips for beginners.
Houtei
Comprehensive explanation of houtei raoyui (under the river) in mahjong, the luck yaku for winning on the very last discard. Learn the conditions, differences from haitei, and strategic tips for beginners.
Iipeikou
Comprehensive explanation of iipeikou (pure double sequence) in mahjong, the 1-han yaku for having two identical sequences. Learn the conditions, recognition tips, and differences from ryanpeikou for beginners.
Ikkitsuukan
Comprehensive explanation of ikkitsuukan (straight) in mahjong, the 2-han yaku for having 123, 456, 789 sequences in one suit. Learn the conditions, menzen vs called differences, and strategic tips for beginners.
Ippatsu
Comprehensive explanation of ippatsu in mahjong, the yaku for winning within one turn after riichi. Learn the conditions, when ippatsu is cancelled, probability, and strategic tips for beginners.
Jantou
Comprehensive explanation of jantou (pair head), required for winning in mahjong. Learn the meaning, role, relationship with pairs, and jantou-related tactics for beginners.
Junchan
Comprehensive explanation of junchan (pure outside hand) in mahjong, the 3-han yaku requiring terminal tiles in all sets. Learn the conditions, differences from chanta, and building tips for beginners.
Kabe
Comprehensive explanation of kabe (wall), a defensive mahjong theory. Learn the meaning, 4-tile visible principle, reading safe tiles using walls for beginners.
Kan
Comprehensive explanation of kan (quad), a special mahjong action. Learn the types, procedure, merits/risks, and strategic judgment for beginners.
Kanchan Machi
Comprehensive explanation of kanchan machi (closed wait), a mahjong wait pattern. Learn characteristics, how to handle it, riichi judgment, and when to pursue better waits for beginners.
Kanchan
Comprehensive explanation of kanchan (closed wait), a wait shape in mahjong. Learn the meaning, kanchan wait and taatsu characteristics, and how to improve to ryanmen for beginners.
Kantsu
Comprehensive explanation of kantsu (quad), a special set in mahjong. Learn the meaning, types (ankan and minkan), kan procedure, and advantages/disadvantages for beginners.
Kazoe Yakuman
Comprehensive explanation of kazoe yakuman, the counted yakuman achieved with 13+ han in mahjong. Learn the conditions, how to build it, and differences from regular yakuman for beginners.
Kokushi Musou
Comprehensive explanation of kokushi musou (thirteen orphans) in mahjong, the yakuman requiring all 13 terminal and honor tiles. Learn the conditions, 13-sided wait variation, and strategic tips for beginners.
Koutsu
Comprehensive explanation of koutsu (triplet), a type of set in mahjong. Learn the meaning, building methods, difference between ankou and minkou, and yaku using koutsu for beginners.
Mangan
Comprehensive explanation of mangan, a point threshold in mahjong. Learn the point values, requirements, and yaku combinations to achieve mangan for beginners.
Mentsu
Comprehensive explanation of mentsu (sets), a fundamental mahjong building block. Learn the meaning, types (shuntsu, koutsu, kantsu), and efficient building methods for beginners.
Menzen Tsumo
Comprehensive explanation of menzen tsumo (self-draw win from closed hand) in mahjong, the basic 1-han yaku. Learn the conditions, abbreviations, and strategic approaches for beginners.
Menzen
Comprehensive explanation of menzen (closed hand) in mahjong, including meaning, advantages, menzen-only yaku, and strategy for beginners.
Naki
Comprehensive explanation of naki (calling tiles), a fundamental mahjong action. Learn differences between pon, chi, and kan, usage, merits/demerits for beginners.
Oshihiki
Comprehensive explanation of oshihiki (offense-defense judgment), the most critical mahjong skill. Learn meaning, judgment criteria, improvement tips for beginners.
Penchan Machi
Comprehensive explanation of penchan machi (edge wait), a mahjong wait pattern. Learn why it's one of the worst waits, characteristics, effective countermeasures for beginners.
Penchan
Comprehensive explanation of penchan (edge wait), a wait shape in mahjong. Learn the meaning, penchan wait and taatsu characteristics, and efficient handling methods for beginners.
Pinfu
Comprehensive explanation of pinfu (all sequences), a fundamental mahjong yaku. Learn establishment conditions, memorization tips, yaku combinations, and scoring for beginners.
Pon
Comprehensive explanation of pon (calling for triplets), one of mahjong's tile calls. Learn the meaning, usage, timing, merits/demerits, and tactical applications for beginners.
Riichi
Comprehensive explanation of riichi (ready hand), the signature yaku of Japanese mahjong. Learn the meaning, declaration method, merits, demerits, timing, and tactics for beginners.
Rinshan Kaihou
Comprehensive explanation of rinshan kaihou (dead wall draw) in mahjong, the special yaku for winning on the replacement tile after kan. Learn the conditions, kan types, and strategic tips for beginners.
Ron
Comprehensive explanation of ron (winning on discard), a fundamental mahjong term. Learn the meaning, usage, differences from tsumo, conditions, and important points for beginners.
Ryanmen Machi
Comprehensive explanation of ryanmen machi (open wait), the most fundamental mahjong wait pattern. Learn why it's the most efficient, how to build it, and strategic usage for beginners.
Ryanmen
Comprehensive explanation of ryanmen (open-ended wait), the most efficient wait in mahjong, including meaning, how to build ryanmen taatsu and ryanmen wait, and comparison with other waits for beginners.
Ryokei (Good Shape)
Comprehensive explanation of ryokei (good shape) in mahjong, including open-ended waits, characteristics of good waits, differences from bad shapes, and practical usage for beginners.
Sanankou
Comprehensive explanation of sanankou (three concealed triplets) in mahjong, the 2-han yaku for having 3 closed triplets. Learn the conditions, ron considerations, and strategic tips for beginners.
Sanbaiman
Comprehensive explanation of sanbaiman, the 11-12 han scoring tier in mahjong. Learn the required han, point values, how to build sanbaiman hands, and occurrence frequency for beginners.
Sanshoku
Comprehensive explanation of sanshoku doujun (three color straight) in mahjong, the yaku for same sequence in all three suits. Learn the conditions, kuisagari rules, and strategic tips for beginners.
Shanpon Machi
Comprehensive explanation of shanpon machi (double pon wait), a mahjong wait pattern. Learn characteristics, advantages, disadvantages, and effective usage for beginners.
Shousangen
Comprehensive explanation of shousangen (little three dragons), a 2-han mahjong yaku. Learn establishment conditions using dragon tiles, building tips, differences from daisangen for beginners.
Shuntsu
Comprehensive explanation of shuntsu (sequence), a type of set in mahjong. Learn the meaning, building methods, difference from koutsu, and efficient sequence building strategies for beginners.
Suji
Comprehensive explanation of suji (intervals), a defensive mahjong theory. Learn the meaning, relationship with ryanmen waits, reading methods, and safety levels for beginners.
Taatsu
Comprehensive explanation of taatsu (incomplete sets) in mahjong, including meaning, types (ryanmen, kanchan, penchan), and efficient taatsu selection for beginners.
Tamen-machi
Comprehensive explanation of tamen-machi (multiple waits) in mahjong, tenpai forms waiting for 3 or more tile types. Learn pattern types, identification methods, and practical applications for beginners.
Tanki Machi
Comprehensive explanation of tanki machi (single wait), a mahjong wait pattern. Learn characteristics, advantages, disadvantages, and effective usage for beginners.
Tanyao
Comprehensive explanation of tanyao (all simples), a fundamental mahjong yaku. Learn establishment conditions, kuitan rules, strategic usage, and more for beginners.
Tenpai
Comprehensive explanation of tenpai (ready hand), a fundamental mahjong term. Learn the meaning, how to identify shapes, types of tenpai, and efficient ways to reach tenpai for beginners.
Toitoi
Comprehensive explanation of toitoi (all triplets) in mahjong, the 2-han yaku for having all triplets. Learn the conditions, differences from chiitoitsu, and strategic tips for beginners.
Toitsu
Comprehensive explanation of toitsu (pair), a basic element in mahjong. Learn the meaning, usage, difference from jantou, and hand building with pairs for beginners.
Tsumo
Comprehensive explanation of tsumo (self-draw), a fundamental mahjong term. Learn the meaning, usage, differences from ron, rules, and scoring for beginners.
Yaku
Comprehensive explanation of yaku (hand patterns), fundamental mahjong rules. Learn the meaning, types, memorization tips, and beginner-recommended yaku.
Yakuhai
Comprehensive explanation of yakuhai (honor triplets), a fundamental mahjong yaku. Learn differences between dragons, round winds, and seat winds, pon timing, and strategic usage for beginners.
Yakuman
Comprehensive explanation of yakuman, the highest scoring hands in mahjong. Learn the types, point values, occurrence probability, and strategies for beginners.
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