Learning Japanese Mahjong means learning Japanese. At least some of it.
You're playing online, someone calls "Pon!" and you freeze. What does that mean? Your opponent declares riichi. Another player says "Ron!" Game over. But what happened?
This confusion ends today.
Why I built this glossary
After 17+ years playing professionally in Japan, I've answered terminology questions thousands of times. New players struggle with the same terms. Intermediate players mix up similar concepts. Even experienced players occasionally forget obscure yaku.
PDF glossaries exist. They're useful. But they're also:
- Hard to search
- Not mobile-friendly
- Overwhelming to browse
- Missing context and examples
So I built something better.
Introducing the NPMahjong Glossary
→ → → Access the full glossary here ← ← ←
What's inside:
- 180+ essential terms covering every aspect of Riichi Mahjong
- Japanese (kanji + hiragana) for authentic learning
- Romaji for pronunciation
- English translations so you understand
- Brief explanations with context
- Usage examples where relevant
How to use it
The glossary is designed for quick lookups and deep learning.
Quick search: Type any term in Japanese, romaji, or English. Results filter instantly.
Category browsing: Click a category tab to focus on specific topics. Learning yaku? Filter to see only winning hands.
Expand for details: Click any card to reveal the full explanation and usage examples.
Jump navigation: On desktop, use the quick-jump menu to skip to any section.
Terms every beginner should know first
Start here:
- Riichi (立直) - The declaration that defines this variant
- Tsumo (自摸) - Drawing a tile / winning by self-draw
- Ron (栄) - Winning from another player's discard
- Pon (碰) - Calling a triplet
- Chi (吃) - Calling a sequence
- Dora (ドラ) - Bonus tiles for extra points
- Tenpai (聴牌) - One tile away from winning
- Furiten (振聴) - The rule that blocks your ron
Master these eight and you'll understand 80% of what happens at the table.
Terms that confuse intermediate players
These trip people up:
- Shanten vs Tenpai - Shanten counts tiles away; tenpai means zero away
- Menzen vs Naki - Closed hand vs open hand (affects scoring)
- Ryanmen vs Kanchan - Two-sided wait vs middle wait (affects pinfu)
- Ura-suji vs Suji - Dangerous tiles vs safe tiles (defense)
The glossary explains each with context.
Yaku you should memorize
Every player should know:
1 han basics:
- Riichi, Tsumo, Tanyao, Pinfu, Yakuhai
2 han hands:
- Chiitoitsu, Toitoi, Sanankou, Sanshoku
High-value targets:
- Honitsu (3 han), Chinitsu (6 han)
Yakuman dreams:
- Kokushi, Suuankou, Daisangen
All 40 yaku in the glossary include han values and requirements.
Slang that makes you sound like a regular
Want to talk like Japanese players?
- Damaten - Silent tenpai (no riichi call)
- Betaori - Full defensive mode
- Ike-ike - Aggressive "go go" style
- Top/Las - First place / Last place
- Hikkake - Trap wait using suji against opponents
47 slang terms in the glossary. Use them sparingly until you're comfortable.
Scoring terms demystified
Scoring confuses everyone at first. Key concepts:
- Han - Main multiplier (yaku + dora)
- Fu - Minipoints from hand composition
- Mangan - 5 han cap (8000/12000 points)
- Haneman, Baiman, Sanbaiman - Higher tiers
- Yakuman - Maximum hand (32000/48000)
The glossary breaks down each scoring threshold with point values.
Keep learning
This glossary pairs well with other resources:
- Best Riichi Mahjong Tools - Practice and study materials
- Riichi Book I - Free strategy guide
- Game Log Reviews - Professional feedback on your play
Bookmark the glossary. Reference it during games. Quiz yourself on categories.
Questions about specific terms? Contact me or join the Discord.

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