Hong Kong Mahjong Glossary
A complete reference of Hong Kong Mahjong terminology in three languages. Each entry shows the English term, Cantonese (繁體中文), Mandarin (简体中文), and a brief definition. Whether you are learning the game, playing with Cantonese speakers, or reading Chinese mahjong resources, this glossary has you covered.
A
A winning hand composed entirely of chows (sequences) plus one pair. Usually worth 1 fan in HK rules.
A hand containing only honour tiles (winds and dragons). A limit hand.
A hand with four kongs and one pair. Extremely rare limit hand.
A hand using tiles of only one suit with no honours. Worth 7 fan.
A winning hand made entirely of pungs (triplets) and one pair. Worth 3 fan.
B
One of the three numbered suits (1–9). Tiles are decorated with bamboo stick designs.
C
One of the three numbered suits (1–9). Tiles display Chinese numerals with the character 萬 (ten-thousand).
A winning hand worth zero fan. Allowed in beginner games but usually not enough to win in standard HK rules requiring a minimum of 3 fan.
A set of three consecutive tiles in the same suit (e.g. 4-5-6 Bamboo). Can only be claimed from the player to your left.
Winning without having claimed any tiles from other players (all melds formed in hand). Worth 1 fan.
D
The last few tiles of the wall reserved as replacement tiles after a kong is declared.
The player who is East wind for the current hand. The dealer draws first and starts the game.
The act of throwing away a tile from your hand, placing it face-up in the discard area.
One of the three numbered suits (1–9). Tiles show circular dot patterns.
The green dragon tile, one of three dragon honour tiles. Literally means "get rich".
The red dragon tile, one of three dragon honour tiles. Literally means "red centre".
The white dragon tile, one of three dragon honour tiles. A blank or framed tile.
A round that ends with no winner because all drawable tiles have been exhausted.
Taking a tile from the wall at the start of your turn.
E
Both a wind tile and a seat position. East is always the dealer.
The required pair in a winning hand. Also called "the pair" or "head".
F
The scoring unit in HK Mahjong. Each scoring pattern adds fan, and the total determines the payout. Most games require a minimum of 3 fan to win.
Bonus tiles (seasons and plants) that are set aside when drawn and replaced. Each matching flower adds 1 fan.
G
Pungs or kongs of all three dragons (Red, Green, White). A limit hand.
Pungs or kongs of all four wind tiles. An extremely rare limit hand.
H
Collective term for all wind tiles (East, South, West, North) and dragon tiles (Red, Green, White).
K
A set of four identical tiles. Can be concealed (from draws) or melded (from a discard). The player draws a replacement tile after declaring a kong.
L
A hand that scores the maximum payout regardless of individual fan count (typically 13 fan equivalent). Examples: Thirteen Orphans, All Honours.
M
Declaring a win. In HK rules the winning hand must meet the minimum fan requirement.
A complete set of tiles — either a chow (sequence), pung (triplet), or kong (quartet).
A hand using tiles from one suit plus honour tiles. Worth 3 fan.
N
One of the four wind tiles. Worth 1 fan when held as a pung/kong matching your seat or the round wind.
P
Two identical tiles. Every standard winning hand requires exactly one pair (the "eyes").
A set of three identical tiles. Can be claimed from any player's discard. Worth more strategically than a chow.
R
Winning by claiming a tile that another player uses to upgrade a melded pung to a kong. A special win condition.
The prevailing wind for the current round of hands. Typically East in the first round.
S
Your assigned wind for the current hand. Rotates counter-clockwise after each hand.
Completing your winning hand by drawing the final tile yourself from the wall rather than claiming a discard. Worth 1 fan.
Pungs/kongs of two dragons plus a pair of the third. Worth 5 fan.
One of the four wind tiles. Worth 1 fan when held as a pung/kong matching your seat or the round wind.
T
A hand that is one tile away from completing a winning combination. Also called "ready" or "waiting".
A special limit hand containing one of each terminal (1 and 9 of each suit) and one of each honour tile, plus one duplicate. The most famous mahjong hand.
The individual playing pieces in mahjong. A standard HK set contains 144 tiles.
W
The specific tile(s) needed to complete a tenpai hand. Can be a single tile or multiple possibilities.
The arrangement of face-down tiles from which players draw. Built at the start of each hand.
One of the four wind tiles. Worth 1 fan when held as a pung/kong matching your seat or the round wind.
Completing your winning hand by claiming the tile another player discards. The discarder pays.
Put these terms into practice
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