Before you can build a wall or form a hand, you need to understand the language of the tiles. In American Mahjong, a standard set contains a total of 166 tiles, each with a specific purpose. Let's break down the different categories and the meaning behind the symbols that make this game so rich and storied.
The Suit Tiles (108 Tiles)
These are the most common tiles in the game. The suits are the three numbered sets, each with four copies of every tile from 1 to 9. They all trace their origins to ancient Chinese currency.
1. Dots (筒子 - Tǒngzǐ)
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What they look like: Tiles marked with a number of circles or "dots."
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The meaning: The dots originally represented copper coins with a square hole in the middle, strung together for easy transport.
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The fun fact: The 1-Dot tile is often a beautifully intricate design, sometimes called a "rice cake" or "bird's nest," adding a unique flair to the set.
2. Bamboos (索子 - Suǒzǐ)
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What they look like: Tiles represented by bamboo sticks.
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The meaning: These originally represented strings of 100 copper coins. The Chinese character for this suit, suǒzǐ, literally means "strings."
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The fun fact: The 1-Bamboo tile is famously depicted as a bird, typically a sparrow or peacock. This is a nod to the game's name, máquè, which means "sparrow," as the tiles' clattering sound is said to resemble their chattering.
3. Characters (萬子 - Wànzǐ)
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What they look like: Tiles marked with a Chinese character on top and a numeral below.
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The meaning: The character at the bottom is wàn, which means "10,000," and represents a string of 10,000 coins. The number on top (1-9) indicates how many of these strings the tile represents.
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The fun fact: This suit's name and meaning are why the Chinese character is used in phrases to wish someone "10,000 years of life."
The Honor Tiles (28 Tiles)
These tiles are not part of any suit and cannot be used to form a sequence (Chow). They represent the fundamental forces of the world and are crucial for forming unique, high-scoring hands.
1. Winds (風牌 - Fēngpái)
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What they look like: Tiles marked with the Chinese characters for the four cardinal directions: East (東), South (南), West (西), and North (北).
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The meaning: These represent the four cardinal directions and are essential for determining the dealer (East) and the seating arrangement at the beginning of the game.
2. Dragons (箭牌 - Jiànpái)
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What they look like: A set of three different tiles, each with a distinct design.
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The meaning: In traditional Chinese Mahjong, these are called "Three Yuans" and represent the core virtues of the game. In American Mahjong, they are known as the Dragons:
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Red Dragon (中 - Zhōng): Represents the center or righteousness.
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Green Dragon (發 - Fā): From the phrase fā cái, meaning "to get rich" or "to strike it rich."
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White Dragon (白 - Bái): Often a blank tile or one with a simple border, representing purity and honesty.
The Special Tiles
These are the tiles that are unique to American Mahjong and add a layer of fun and strategy.
1. Flowers (8 tiles)
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What they look like: Beautifully illustrated tiles depicting different flowers, seasons, or other natural elements.
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The meaning: In American Mahjong, all eight Flower tiles are interchangeable and can be used to form a set, as specified on the NMJL card. They are not part of a traditional suit.
2. Jokers (8 tiles)
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What they look like: Tiles with a distinct design, often including the word "Joker."
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The meaning: These are your wild cards! A Joker can be used to represent any tile in a Pung, Kong, or Quint. They are a defining feature of American Mahjong and a powerful tool for a skilled player.
Now that you know what each tile means, you're ready to start playing. At Rack It! Mahjong, we believe that understanding the history and meaning behind the tiles makes the game even more enjoyable.
