Mahjong terms, explained
Here are the mahjong words you will actually hear at an American Mah Jongg table, from Bams and Cracks to the Charleston and calling Mah Jongg, each explained in one plain sentence.
Every table has its own shorthand, and mahjong is no exception. Keep this open the first few times you play and the words will be yours within a session or two. These are the terms you will actually hear at an American Mah Jongg table.
American Mah Jongg
The version of mahjong most commonly played in the US, using a yearly card of winning hands from the National Mah Jongg League, jokers, and a passing round called the Charleston.
Bams (Bamboo)
One of the three suits, numbered 1 to 9, traditionally shown as bamboo sticks.
Cracks (Characters)
One of the three suits, numbered 1 to 9, shown with Chinese characters. Also called craks or characters.
Dots (Circles)
One of the three suits, numbered 1 to 9, shown as circles. Also called dots or balls.
Dragons
Honor tiles in three colors: Red, Green and White. The White dragon is often called Soap.
Winds
Honor tiles for the four directions: East, South, West and North.
Flowers
Decorative tiles used in many hands on the card. An American set has eight.
Jokers
Wild tiles that can stand in for a tile within a group of three or more of the same tile. They cannot be used for pairs or singles.
The Charleston
A passing phase at the start of each hand, unique to American Mah Jongg. Players pass three tiles right, across and left to move toward a hand on the card.
The Card
The official National Mah Jongg League card listing every legal winning hand for the year. A new one is published annually.
NMJL
The National Mah Jongg League, the organization that publishes the yearly card of hands used in American play.
Wall
The rows of face-down tiles players draw from during the game.
Rack
The holder that stands your tiles up so only you can see them.
Exposure
Tiles you place face up on your rack after claiming a discard, showing part of your hand to the table.
Mah Jongg
What you call out when your 14 tiles match a hand on the card. It means you have won the hand.
Wall game
A hand that ends with no winner because the wall ran out of tiles before anyone reached Mah Jongg.
Pie / Charleston courtesy pass
An optional final pass of up to three tiles across the table at the end of the Charleston.
Ready to hear these in the wild? The fastest way to learn the language is at a table. Here is where to find one in Marin.