1. Getting to know the tiles
Mahjong is played with 144 tiles divided into three main categories. Understanding these tiles is the foundation of learning Mahjong.
Introduction to Mahjong Tiles
A standard Mahjong set contains 144 tiles, organized into three main categories. Each tile has a specific purpose and value in the game.
The Three Main Categories
- Suit Tiles (108 tiles) - The most common tiles, divided into three suits
- Honor Tiles (28 tiles) - Special tiles that don't belong to any suit
- Bonus Tiles (8 tiles) - Optional tiles used for scoring
Suit Tiles
Suit tiles are the backbone of Mahjong. Each suit has tiles numbered from 1 to 9, with four identical copies of each tile.
1. Bamboo (Sticks) Suit
The Bamboo suit features bamboo stalks. The number 1 tile is special - it shows a bird instead of a single bamboo stalk.
2. Characters (Cracks) Suit
The Characters suit displays Chinese characters representing numbers 1 through 9. These tiles show the character for "ten thousand" (万) combined with the number.
3. Dots (Circles) Suit
The Dots suit consists of circular patterns. Each tile shows the corresponding number of circles arranged in a pattern.
Honor Tiles
Honor tiles are special tiles that don't belong to any suit. They come in two types:
Wind Tiles (16 tiles)
Four different winds, each appearing four times:
- East (东)
- South (南)
- West (西)
- North (北)
Dragon Tiles (12 tiles)
Three different dragons, each appearing four times:
- Red Dragon (中) - Often shown as a red character
- Green Dragon (發) - Often shown as a green character
- White Dragon (白) - Often shown as a blank or blue tile
Bonus Tiles (Optional)
Some Mahjong sets include bonus tiles that can be used for extra scoring:
- Flower tiles (4 tiles)
- Season tiles (4 tiles)
Key Concepts
- Chow (Sequence): Three consecutive tiles of the same suit
- Pung (Triplet): Three identical tiles
- Kong (Quad): Four identical tiles
- Pair (Eyes): Two identical tiles, required for a winning hand
Practice Tips
Use the interactive game above to practice recognizing and categorizing different tile types. This will help you quickly identify tiles during actual gameplay.