萬子Manzuまんず
The suit showing a Chinese numeral above 萬, the character for 10,000. One of three numbered suits with tiles 1-9.
一萬 (1-man) through 九萬 (9-man)
216 terms用語集
Riichi mahjong glossary
Search 216 riichi mahjong terms in Japanese, romaji, or English, plus what each word means in play. New to the table? Start with what tsumo, ron, and tenpai mean.
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Tiles牌
The 136 tiles that make up a mahjong set
筒子Pinzuぴんず
The suit showing circular coin designs. One of three numbered suits with tiles 1-9.
A hand with 234 pinzu forms a sequence.
索子Souzuそうず
The suit depicting bamboo sticks. The 1-sou (bird) is unique. One of three numbered suits with tiles 1-9.
The 1-sou shows a bird (peacock) instead of bamboo.
字牌Jihaiじはい
The seven honor tiles: four winds and three dragons. Cannot form sequences, only triplets.
風牌Kazehai / Fonpaiかぜはい / フォンパイ
The four wind tiles: East, South, West, North. A triplet is worth 1 han when it matches your seat or the round wind, 2 han when it matches both.
三元牌Sangenpaiさんげんぱい
White (haku), Green (hatsu), and Red (chun) dragons. A triplet of any is worth 1 han.
東Tonとん
East wind tile. The starting dealer position and first round wind.
南Nanなん
South wind tile. The second round wind in a full game.
西Shaaしゃー
West wind tile. The third seat in turn order, across from East.
北Peiぺい
North wind tile. Fourth seat position in the rotation.
白Hakuはく
The white dragon, shown as a blank or framed tile. Also called 'shiro' ('white') or 'soap'.
發Hatsuはつ
The green dragon, displaying the character for 'development' or 'prosperity'. Also called 'Ao' or 'green dragon'.
中Chunちゅん
The red dragon, showing the character for 'center'. A triplet is worth 1 han as yakuhai.
老頭牌Routouhaiろうとうはい
The 1 and 9 of each numbered suit. Key to yaku like junchan and chinroutou.
中張牌Chunchanpai / Chuuchanhaiちゅんちゃんぱい / ちゅうちゃんはい
Numbered tiles 2-8 in any suit. A tanyao hand contains only simples.
么九牌Yaochuuhaiやおちゅうはい
Collective term for 1s, 9s, and all honor tiles. Central to many yaku.
順子Shuntsuしゅんつ
A set of three consecutive numbered tiles in the same suit (e.g., 2-3-4 man).
刻子Koutsuこうつ
A set of three identical tiles. Can be formed with any tile type.
槓子Kantsuかんつ
A set of four identical tiles. Requires declaring kan to form.
対子Toitsuといつ
Two identical tiles. Every standard winning hand needs exactly one pair (the head).
頭Atamaあたま
Another word for the pair in a winning hand. Determines some fu points.
面子Mentsuめんつ
A group of tiles forming a valid set: sequence, triplet, or quad.
ドラDoraどら
What is dora?
Bonus tiles adding 1 han each. The dora indicator shows the tile before the dora.
If 3-man is showing, 4-man is dora. If 9m is showing, 1m is dora. If Chun is showing, Haku is dora.
裏ドラUradoraうらどら
Extra dora revealed under the indicator after winning with riichi. Adds more han potential.
赤ドラAkadoraあかどら
Red-colored 5s worth 1 han each. Tenhou red-five tables, Mahjong Soul, and M-League play one per suit at four players. WRC and EMA play none.
槓ドラKandoraかんどら
Additional dora indicator revealed when someone declares kan.
抜きドラNukidoraぬきどら
In three-player games, a North you set aside and replace from the dead wall. Each one adds 1 han, like a dora, and it is not a yaku. Pulling one counts as a call.
搭子Taatsuたーつ
Two tiles one tile away from a sequence or triplet: a two-sided, middle, or edge shape, or a pair.
雀頭Jantouじゃんとう
The formal name for the pair in a winning hand. Every standard hand is four sets and one jantou.
両嵌Ryankanりゃんかん
Three tiles with two gaps, like 1-3-5. It accepts the 2 or the 4 to make a sequence.
亜両面Aryanmenありゃんめん
A pair touching a two-sided shape, like 3-4-5-5. It works as a two-sided wait plus a pair.
中膨れNakabukureなかぶくれ
A sequence with its middle tile doubled, like 3-4-4-5. As a final wait it takes only the middle tile, the 4.
くっつきKuttsukiくっつき
An iishanten with the sets and pair done plus floating tiles. Any tile that touches a floating tile gives tenpai.
煙突Entotsuえんとつ
A two-sided shape joined to a triplet, plus a separate pair, like 2-3-4-4-4 with two green dragons. It waits on the 1, the 4, or the dragon.
Yaku (Winning Hands)役
Valid hand patterns required to win
立直Riichiりーち
What is riichi?
Declare when one tile away from winning with a closed hand. Costs 1000 points.
Call Riichi out loud, turn your discarded tile sideways, and place a 1000-point stick.
門前清自摸和Menzen Tsumoめんぜんつも
What is menzen tsumo?
Menzen tsumo is the yaku for winning on your own draw with a closed hand. Any chi, pon, or open kan rules it out.
断么九Tanyaoたんやお
Hand contains only tiles 2-8, no terminals or honors.
234m 567p 345s 678s 22p
平和Pinfuぴんふ
What is pinfu?
Closed hand with four sequences, valueless pair, and open-ended wait.
123m 456p 789s 234m 55s (waiting on 3-6p)
一盃口Iipeikouいーぺいこう
Two identical sequences in the same suit. Requires closed hand.
223344m in one hand.
役牌Yakuhaiやくはい
Triplet/quad of dragons, seat wind, or round wind.
三色同順Sanshoku Doujunさんしょくどうじゅん
Same sequence in all three suits.
456m 456p 456s in one hand.
一気通貫Ittsuいっきつうかん
Sequences 123, 456, 789 in the same suit.
123456789 in manzu.
混全帯么九Chantaちゃんた
Every set and the pair includes a terminal or honor.
七対子Chiitoitsuちーといつ
Seven different pairs. No duplicate pairs allowed. 25 fu regardless of contents.
11m 33m 55p 77p 99s 22z 44z
対々和Toitoihouといといほう
Four triplets/quads and a pair. No sequences allowed.
三暗刻Sanankouさんあんこう
Three triplets formed from your own draws. A triplet finished by ron counts as open. The fourth set can be open.
三色同刻Sanshoku Doukouさんしょくどうこう
Triplets of the same number in all three suits.
555m 555p 555s
三槓子Sankantsuさんかんつ
Three quads (kan) in one hand. Rare and difficult.
混老頭Honroutouほんろうとう
Only terminals and honors, no simples. Always comes with toitoi or chiitoitsu.
小三元Shousangenしょうさんげん
Two dragon triplets and a dragon pair. Comes with 2 yakuhai.
混一色Honitsuほんいつ
One suit plus honors only.
123m 456m 789m 111z 33z
純全帯么九Junchanじゅんちゃん
Every set and pair includes a terminal. No honors.
二盃口Ryanpeikouりゃんぺいこう
Two sets of iipeikou. Requires closed hand. Cannot combine with chiitoitsu.
清一色Chinitsuちんいつ
Entire hand is one numbered suit only.
国士無双Kokushi Musouこくしむそう
One of each terminal and honor, plus one duplicate as head.
四暗刻Suuankouすーあんこう
Four triplets all formed without borrowing tiles (i.e. must win by tsumo unless tanki wait).
大三元Daisangenだいさんげん
Triplets/quads of all three dragons.
小四喜Shousuushiiしょうすーしー
Three wind triplets and a wind pair.
大四喜Daisuushiiだいすーしー
Triplets/quads of all four winds. Mahjong Soul pays it as a double yakuman; Tenhou and EMA pay a single.
字一色Tsuuiisouつーいーそう
Entire hand consists of honor tiles only.
清老頭Chinroutouちんろうとう
Entire hand consists of terminal tiles (1s and 9s) only.
緑一色Ryuuiisouりゅういーそう
Hand uses only green tiles: 23468s and hatsu (only green tiles).
九蓮宝燈Chuuren Poutouちゅうれんぽうとう
1112345678999 in one suit plus any tile of that suit. Closed only.
四槓子Suukantsuすーかんつ
Four quads in one hand. Possibly the rarest standard yakuman.
天和Tenhouてんほう
Dealer wins on their initial 14-tile draw. Extremely rare.
地和Chiihouちーほう
Non-dealer wins on their first draw before any calls.
人和Renhouれんほう
Non-dealer wins on a discard before their first turn. Value varies by ruleset.
ダブル立直Daburu Riichiだぶるりーち
Riichi declared with your first discard, before any chi, pon, or kan. It replaces riichi's 1 han.
一発Ippatsuいっぱつ
Win within one turn cycle after declaring riichi, with no calls interrupting.
海底摸月Haitei Raoyueはいていらおゆえ
Win by self-draw on the last drawable tile from the live wall.
河底撈魚Houtei Raoyuiほうていらおゆい
Win by calling ron on the final discarded tile of the hand before an exhaustive draw.
嶺上開花Rinshan Kaihouりんしゃんかいほう
Win by self-draw immediately on the replacement tile after declaring kan.
槍槓Chankanちゃんかん
Win by calling ron on a tile used to upgrade an open pon to an open kan.
流し満貫Nagashi Manganながしまんがん
Paid like a mangan tsumo at an exhaustive draw, when every tile you discarded is a terminal or honor and nobody called any of them. Tenhou and Mahjong Soul ranked play it; M-League and WRC don't. Some rule sets also bar your own calls.
Gameplay Actions進行
Actions and decisions during play
自摸Tsumoつも
What is tsumo in mahjong?
Tsumo means drawing a tile from the wall. It's also the call when that tile completes your hand: you win by self-draw, and every other player pays.
Say 'Tsumo!' and lay the drawn tile apart from your hand.
打牌Dahaiだはい
The act of discarding a tile after drawing. Must be placed in the discard pond in order.
摸打Moudaもうだ
The act of drawing and discarding (any) tiles; the most common action in the game.
栄Ronろん
What does ron mean in mahjong?
Ron means winning on another player's discard. The player who threw that tile pays the whole hand. Ron beats a pon, kan, or chi on the same tile. You can't ron while you're furiten.
Say 'Ron!' and reveal your winning hand.
和了Agari / Houraあがり・ほうら
A winning hand as well as the act of winning it. Achieved by completing a valid hand with at least one yaku.
吃Chiiちー
Take a discarded tile to complete a sequence. Only from the player to your left.
Call 'Chii!' to take a 5 and complete 456.
碰Ponぽん
What is pon?
Take a discarded tile to complete a triplet. Can call from any player. Pon takes priority over chi, unless it comes clearly after the chi call.
Call 'Pon!' when holding two 7m and someone discards 7m.
槓Kanかん
Declare four of a kind. Reveals a new dora. Three types: ankan (closed), minkan (open), kakan (upgraded). Kan takes priority over chi, unless it comes clearly after the chi call.
暗槓Ankanあんかん
Declare kan with four tiles you drew yourself. Still counts as a menzen (closed) group.
明槓Minkanみんかん
Declare kan by calling a discarded tile when holding three. Opens the hand.
加槓Kakanかかん
Upgrade an existing pon to a kan by adding the fourth tile. Can be robbed (chankan).
鳴きNakiなき
General term for calling tiles (chii, pon, open kan). Opens the hand.
門前Menzenめんぜん
A hand with no called tiles. Enables riichi and keeps some yaku at full value.
振聴Furitenふりてん
What is furiten?
You can't ron while any of your winning tiles is in your past discards. A tile another player called from them still counts. Passing a winning discard also blocks ron until your next turn, or until the hand ends once you're in riichi. Tsumo still wins.
聴牌Tenpaiてんぱい
What does tenpai mean?
Tenpai means your hand is one tile from a win. You need it to declare riichi. When the wall runs out, players who aren't tenpai pay the ones who are.
ノーテンNotenのーてん
Not in tenpai when a hand ends in a draw. Must pay to those in tenpai.
待ちMachiまち
The tile(s) that would complete your hand. Different wait patterns have different names.
両面Ryanmenりゃんめん
Waiting on either end of a sequence (e.g., 34 waiting on 2 or 5). Two tile kinds, eight outs at most: the standard good wait.
嵌張Kanchanかんちゃん
Waiting for the middle tile of a sequence (e.g., 35 waiting on 4). One tile kind, four outs at most.
辺張Penchanぺんちゃん
Waiting on 3 for 12 or 7 for 89. One tile kind, four outs at most. Considered a bad wait.
三面張Sanmenchanさんめんちゃん
A wait on three tiles, usually five in a row. 34567 reads as 34 plus 567 or 345 plus 67, so it wins on 2, 5, or 8. Up to 11 outs.
34567p waits on 2p, 5p, or 8p.
双碰Shanponしゃんぽん
Waiting on either of two pairs to become a triplet. Four total outs.
単騎Tankiたんき
Waiting for one tile to complete the pair. Three outs maximum.
延べ単Nobetanのべたん
A 4-tile tanki wait (e.g., 2345 waiting on 2 or 5 for the pair).
配牌Haipaiはいぱい
The initial tiles dealt to each player. Dealer gets 14, others get 13.
向聴Shantenしゃんてん
Number of tile changes needed to reach tenpai. 0-shanten means tenpai.
A 2-shanten hand needs 2 more useful tiles to be ready.
受け入れUkeireうけいれ
The number of unseen tiles that lower your shanten. At tenpai, those are your winning tiles. Efficiency trainers rank discards by it.
一向聴Iishantenいーしゃんてん
One tile away from tenpai. One more useful tile will make you ready.
流局Ryuukyokuりゅうきょく
A hand that ends with no winner. Usually the wall runs out: an exhaustive draw, with noten payments. An abortive draw ends the hand early, with no payments.
差し込みSashikomiさしこみ
Deliberately discarding a winning tile to another player for strategic reasons.
ベタ降りBetaoriべたおり
Abandoning your hand to avoid dealing in. Discard only safe tiles.
降りるOriruおりる
To give up on winning the current hand and play defensively.
手出しTedashiてだし
Discarding a tile from your hand rather than the one just drawn.
ツモ切りTsumogiriつもぎり
Immediately discarding the tile you just drew. Shows the drawn tile didn't help; a run of them often means a tenpai hand.
山Yamaやま
The tile walls built at the start of each hand. Players draw from the wall.
王牌Wanpaiわんぱい
Also 'King's Tiles'. The 14-tile section containing dora indicators and kan replacement tiles.
嶺上牌Rinshanpaiりんしゃんぱい
The tile drawn from the dead wall after declaring kan.
捨て牌Sutehaiすてはい
Any tile that has been discarded. Forms the discard pond.
河Kawaかわ
The area where each player places their discards in order.
現物Genbutsuげんぶつ
A tile a player can't ron on: one in their own discards or, against a riichi, any tile that passed after the riichi without a ron.
筋Sujiすじ
Tiles 3 apart in one suit (1-4-7, 2-5-8, 3-6-9) that a two-sided wait links. Used for defense.
If 4 is discarded, 1 and 7 are its suji: safe from a two-sided wait on 2-3 or 5-6, not from other waits.
壁Kabeかべ
When all 4 of a tile are visible, blocking certain waits. Used for defense.
ワンチャンスOne Chanceわんちゃんす
Three copies of a tile are visible, so a wait through it is less likely. The last copy can still be in a hand. Less likely to deal in, not safe.
ノーチャンスNo Chanceのーちゃんす
A tile no ryanmen can win on because all four copies of a neighbouring tile are visible, like a 9 when four 8s are out. The same read as kabe. Tanki and shanpon, and behind some walls a kanchan or penchan, can still win on it.
放銃Houjuuほうじゅう
Discarding the tile another player rons on. The discarder pays the whole hand. Deal-in rate is a core stat on Tenhou.
役なしYakunashiやくなし
A complete shape with no yaku. It can't win, and dora don't count as yaku. A closed hand can still get one by declaring riichi or by winning on tsumo.
裏筋Ura-sujiうらすじ
The waits of a two-sided shape one gap from an early discard: cutting the 3 from 356 leaves 56, waiting on 4 and 7. An old read calls them dangerous; the effect is small, a tiebreak at most.
先切りSakigiriさきぎり
Discarding an otherwise useful tile earlier than expected, usually before it becomes dangerous later. (E.g. 5 from 556)
半荘Hanchanはんちゃん
A full game of two rounds, East then South. At least eight hands, more when the dealer repeats. The standard length on Tenhou, Mahjong Soul, and in EMA play. On Tenhou and Mahjong Soul, a bust ends it early.
東風戦Tonpuusenとんぷうせん
A short game of one round, East only. At least four hands, unless a bust ends it early. Tenhou and Mahjong Soul both offer it next to the hanchan.
オーラスOorasuおーらす
The last hand of the game, such as South 4 in a hanchan. Placement decides every choice here, because nothing comes after it.
ダブロンDaburonだぶろん
Two players ron the same discard. Tenhou and Mahjong Soul pay both. The discarder pays each winner in full. EMA 2025 also lets every winner score.
頭ハネAtamahaneあたまはね
Only the first player after the discarder, in turn order, wins when several call ron on one tile. The official rule in M-League and WRC tournaments. Tenhou and Mahjong Soul play double ron instead.
九種九牌Kyuushu Kyuuhaiきゅうしゅきゅうはい
Abortive draw. On your first draw, with no calls yet, you hold nine or more different terminals and honors. You may declare it and end the hand. EMA 2025 has no abortive draws.
四風連打Suufon Rendaすーふぉんれんだ
Abortive draw. All four players discard the same wind on the first go-around, with no calls. Tenhou and Mahjong Soul play it.
四家立直Suucha Riichiすーちゃりーち
Abortive draw. All four players declare riichi and the fourth riichi discard is not ronned. Tenhou and Mahjong Soul play it.
四槓散了Suukan Sanra / Suukaikanすーかんさんら
Abortive draw when four kans are declared by more than one player. One player holding all four is going for suukantsu instead. Tenhou and Mahjong Soul play it.
三家和Sanchahouさんちゃほー
Three players ron the same discard. Tenhou aborts the hand. Mahjong Soul pays all three instead.
Scoring点数
Point calculation and payment terms
飜Hanはん
Also 'fan'. The main multiplier for hand value. Each yaku and dora adds han.
符Fuふ
Base points from hand composition. Added for triplets, waits, and winning method.
満貫Manganまんがん
5 han (or 4 han/40fu, 3 han/70fu). 8000 points for non-dealer, 12000 for dealer.
跳満Hanemanはねまん
6-7 han. 12000 points for non-dealer, 18000 for dealer.
倍満Baimanばいまん
8-10 han. 16000 points for non-dealer, 24000 for dealer.
三倍満Sanbaimanさんばいまん
11-12 han. 24000 points for non-dealer, 36000 for dealer.
役満Yakumanやくまん
What is yakuman?
13+ han or special hands. 32000 points for non-dealer, 48000 for dealer.
親Oyaおや
The East seat player. A dealer win pays 1.5 times a non-dealer's. On a non-dealer's tsumo, the dealer pays double what the others pay. Stays dealer if they win or tenpai in an exhaustive draw.
子Koこ
Any player who is not the dealer. South, West, and North seats.
本場Honbaほんば
Bonus of 300 points per honba. Increases when dealer repeats or draws occur.
On 2 honba, winner gets 600 extra points.
供託Kyoutakuきょうたく
Uncollected 1000-point riichi sticks. Winner takes all from the table.
ノーテン罰符Noten Bappuのーてんばっぷ
3000 points paid by the noten players and split among the tenpai players when the wall runs out. An abortive draw pays nothing.
青天井Aotenjouあおてんじょう
A rule variant with no scoring caps. Hands can be worth millions of points.
ウマUmaうま
End-game bonus/penalty. Common is 10-20: 1st/2nd gain, 3rd/4th lose points.
オカOkaおか
The bonus for first place. Everyone starts below the return, often 25,000 against 30,000, and the four 5,000 gaps, 20,000 in all, go to the winner: +20 in the final score. A rule set that starts and returns at the same number has no oka.
チョンボChomboちょんぼ
A rule violation, such as a false win. Parlors and casual games usually charge a mangan payment to all opponents. M-League and EMA tournaments deduct 20,000 points (20 in the final score) instead.
形式聴牌Keishiki Tenpaiけいしきてんぱい
Tenpai in shape but with no yaku to win on. It still counts as tenpai at the draw, so it collects noten payments.
連荘Renchanれんちゃん
When the dealer stays dealer for another hand. Occurs on dealer win or tenpai.
飛びTobiとび
When a player drops below 0 points. Ends the game on Tenhou, Mahjong Soul and in most parlors. M-League, WRC and EMA play on.
切り上げ満貫Kiriage Manganきりあげまんがん
Rounding 4 han 30 fu and 3 han 60 fu up to a mangan. M-League, WRC 2025 and EMA 2025 play it. Tenhou and Mahjong Soul ranked games don't. Clubs vary.
数え役満Kazoe Yakumanかぞえやくまん
13 han or more from yaku and dora pays a yakuman on Tenhou and Mahjong Soul. M-League and the EMA 2025 rules score it as a sanbaiman.
点棒Tenbouてんぼう
The sticks used to keep score at the table: 100, 1,000, 5,000, and 10,000 points.
積み棒Tsumibouつみぼう
The 100-point stick the dealer puts out to mark each honba.
包Paoぱお
Also sekinin barai. A player who feeds the meld that completes big three dragons or big four winds pays for it: all of a tsumo, half of a ron. Little four winds has no pao, because the fourth wind can still be the pair. M-League and WRC also apply it to four kans (suukantsu).
ツモ損Tsumo Sonつもそん
In three-player games, the empty North seat's share of a tsumo goes unpaid, so a tsumo can pay less than a ron.
八連荘Paarenchanぱーれんちゃん
A local yakuman for a dealer who wins eight hands in a row. Most online and tournament rules leave it out.
Etiquette作法
Manners and proper conduct at the table
よろしくお願いしますYoroshiku Onegaishimasuよろしくおねがいします
Said at the start of a game. Polite way to begin, meaning 'please treat me well.'
ありがとうございましたArigatou Gozaimashitaありがとうございました
Said at the end of a game. Thanks everyone for playing, acknowledges shared effort.
礼儀Reigiれいぎ
Proper manners at the table regarding attitude. Includes speech, manners, sportsmanship.
マナーManaaまなー
Proper manners at the table regarding actions. Includes speed of play, handling tiles, and game progression.
先付けSakizukeさきづけ
Having your yaku minimum already guaranteed within your own hand and not depending on discards. Some rules require this.
後付けAtozukeあとづけ
Opposite of Sakizuke. Having a potential yaku that may not be valid yet, and depends on discarded tiles. Some rules forbid this.
喰い替えKuikaeくいかえ
Calling a tile then discarding the same tile or opposite end of the same sequence tile. Usually prohibited.
流れNagareながれ
The perceived momentum or luck flow in a game. A superstitious but common concept.
洗牌Shiipaiしいぱい
Mixing the tiles face down between hands. Proper rotation is part of good manners.
着座 / 席決めChakuza / Sekigimeちゃくざ・せきぎめ
The process of determining starting seats. Usually done by drawing wind tiles.
初日Shonichiしょにち
A new player's (shinki) first day at a club or parlor. Regulars often treat newcomers nicely.
差しウマSashiumaさしうま
Private side bet between two players. Separate from the main game scoring.
三人麻雀Sanmaさんにんまーじゃん
Riichi for three players. Tenhou and Mahjong Soul play 108 tiles with no 2m to 8m, no chii, and North set aside as a dora. A tsumo collects from two players.
鷲巣麻雀Washizuわしずまーじゃん
A manga-style variant with transparent tiles. Most tiles are visible to all.
Jargon & Slang俗語
Formal and Informal terms used by players
黙聴Damatenだまてん
Being in tenpai without declaring riichi. Sacrifices riichi's 1 han and uradora for flexibility.
闇聴Yamitenやみてん
Same as damaten. Hiding your ready state from opponents.
バカホンBakahonばかほん
A honitsu with no other yaku and no dora, usually open. Cheap, and easy to read.
空聴Kara-tenからてん
A tenpai shape with no winning tile left. If every copy is visible elsewhere, it still counts as tenpai at the draw. If you hold all four yourself, Tenhou and Mahjong Soul count it as noten.
ドボンDobonどぼん
Going below 0 points and busting out of the game. Ends the match.
地獄Jigokuじごく
A wait with only 1 out remaining. Waiting on a tile with 3 already visible.
とりあえずToriaezuとりあえず
Phrase used when making a temporary choice. 'For now, I'll discard this.'
のみNomiのみ
Suffix meaning 'only.' Riichi nomi = riichi-only hand with no other yaku.
Pinfu-nomi means a hand with only pinfu.
追いかけOikakeおいかけ
Chasing riichi. Declaring riichi after another player already has. Also 'Okkake.'
全ツッパZentsuppa / Zentsuぜんつっぱ
Pushing every tile, however dangerous, instead of folding.
出たDetaでた
Exclaimed when a key tile appears, especially a winning tile. Bad manners to replace ron with this.
臭いKusaiくさい
When a discard seems risky or suspicious. 'That tile smells dangerous.'
味Ajiあじ
A tile or situation with hidden potential. Borrowed from Go terminology.
トップTopとっぷ
First place. 'Going for top' means aiming to win the game.
ラスLasらす
Fourth place. Short for 'last.' Avoiding las is key strategy.
ラス回しRasu-mawashiらすまわし
Strategy to pass 4th place to another player through deal-ins or clever play.
読みYomiよみ
Reading opponents' hands and intentions from their discards and actions.
戦略Senryakuせんりゃく
Overall game strategy. Long-term thinking about placement and points.
戦術Senjutsuせんじゅつ
Short-term tactical decisions. What to discard, when to call, etc.
赤Akaあか
Short for akadora. 'I have aka' means holding a red five.
行け行けIke-ikeいけいけ
Aggressive playstyle. Pushing forward without regard for defense.
ベタ降りBetaoriべたおり
Completely abandoning offense for safety.
早いHayaiはやい
A quick hand reaching tenpai early. 'Their hand is fast' = be careful.
遅いOsoiおそい
A slow developing hand. Takes many turns to reach tenpai.
顔面Ganmenがんめん
A direct hit. Dealing in right after a riichi declaration.
対応Taiouたいおう
Responding to opponents' actions. Reading and reacting to riichi or calls.
引っ掛けHikkakeひっかけ
A riichi wait designed to trap opponents using suji logic against them.
Discard 6, wait on 3 to catch players using suji.
ソウズ場Souzu-baそうずば
When many bamboo tiles appear early. Field is rich in souzu.
ピンズ場Pinzu-baぴんずば
When many circle tiles appear early. Field is rich in pinzu.
マンズ場Manzu-baまんずば
When many character tiles appear early. Field is rich in manzu.
下家Shimochaしもちゃ
The player sitting to your right. They play right after you, so they're the one who can chi your discards.
対面Toimenといめん
The player sitting directly across from you.
上家Kamichaかみちゃ
The player sitting to your left. They play right before you: chi only from them.
自風Jikazeじかぜ
Your current seat wind. Changes as the deal passes.
場風Bakazeばかぜ
The current round's wind. East round or South round.
ダブリーDaburiだぶりー
Slang for double riichi. Declaring on your first turn.
間四間Aida Yonkenあいだよんけん
Two discards of the same suit with four numbers between them, like the 2 and the 7. They flag the 3 and the 6 as dangerous. A weak discard read: a tiebreak at most.
絞りShiboriしぼり
Holding tiles another player needs to slow their hand development.
一般Ippanいっぱん
Tenhou's entry lobby. Open to anyone who doesn't qualify for Tokujou (4 dan with R1800 or more).
上級Joukyuuじょうきゅう
Tenhou's second lobby, from 1 kyu up.
特上Tokujouとくじょう
Tenhou's third lobby: 4 dan or higher with R1800 or more.
鳳凰Hououほうおう
Tenhou's top lobby: 7 dan or higher with R2000 or more, on a paid account.
段Danだん
The upper ranks on Tenhou and in pro leagues, counted up from 1 dan. Below them sit the kyu ranks.
級Kyuきゅう
The beginner ranks on Tenhou, counted down from 9 kyu to 1 kyu before 1 dan.
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Free deck何切るTwenty hands.
Twenty hands.
Pick your discard.
A free nanikiru deck from a Japanese professional mahjong player (JPMA) in Osaka. It starts with loose tiles and ends with a riichi on the table. Every answer shows the tile count behind it.
- Twenty problems, in order. Fundamentals first, then shapes, value, riichi waits and one defense spot.
- Answers on their own page. Decide first, then check. No peeking by accident.
- Printable PDF. Do one a day, or all twenty on the train.
I'll email you a link to confirm, then the deck. After that, a few short emails on how to use it, then new problems and guides about once a week. One click unsubscribes. Privacy policy