Learning mahjong becomes much easier when you understand the names of its tiles and what each one represents.
Whether you’re a beginner exploring the game, a regular player learning traditional terminology, or someone searching for a complete mahjong tile names list, knowing the different categories is essential.
This guide explains the major tile families, including bamboo, circles, characters, winds, dragons, flowers, and seasons, along with useful variations and naming conventions found in different mahjong traditions.
1. Mahjong Tile Names in the Three Main Numbered Suits
The three numbered suits form the foundation of traditional mahjong. Each suit contains tiles numbered from one through nine, with four copies of each tile in a standard set.
- One Bamboo (Bird) — The first bamboo tile, often illustrated with a bird in traditional Chinese sets.
- Two Bamboo — A tile featuring two bamboo symbols.
- Three Bamboo — Three bamboo symbols arranged in a recognizable pattern.
- Four Bamboo — Four bamboo symbols representing the fourth number in the suit.
- Five Bamboo — A numbered bamboo tile with five markings.
- Six Bamboo — Six bamboo symbols arranged across the tile.
- Seven Bamboo — A tile displaying seven bamboo markings.
- Eight Bamboo — Eight bamboo symbols representing its numerical value.
- Nine Bamboo — The highest numbered tile in the bamboo suit.
- One Circle — The first tile in the circle or dot suit.
- Two Circles — A tile displaying two circular markings.
- Three Circles — Three decorative circles arranged on the tile.
- Four Circles — Four dot symbols representing the number four.
- Five Circles — Five circular markings in a patterned arrangement.
- Six Circles — A numbered circle tile with six visible dots.
These names introduce two of the three numbered families. The remaining circle and character tiles complete the numbered suits, which are used to form sequences, triplets, and other winning combinations.
2. Mahjong Tile Names for the Complete Bamboo Suit
Bamboo tiles are also called sticks or bams in some English-language mahjong communities. Their artwork often features green bamboo stalks and traditional decorative patterns.
- One Bam — The common English nickname for One Bamboo.
- Two Bams — The bamboo tile representing two.
- Three Bams — A three-stalk bamboo tile.
- Four Bams — The fourth numbered bamboo tile.
- Five Bams — The fifth tile in the bamboo family.
- Six Bams — A bamboo tile with six markings.
- Seven Bams — The seventh numbered bamboo tile.
- Eight Bams — A bamboo tile showing eight symbols.
- Nine Bams — The highest bamboo number.
- Bamboo One — An alternative descriptive label for One Bamboo.
- Bamboo Two — A straightforward reference to Two Bamboo.
- Bamboo Three — Another descriptive name for the third bamboo tile.
- Bamboo Four — A useful label in beginner learning materials.
- Bamboo Five — A descriptive reference to the fifth bamboo tile.
- Bamboo Nine — A reference to the final numbered bamboo tile.
3. Mahjong Tile Names for the Circle or Dot Suit
The circle suit is commonly called dots, circles, or coins. Its tiles feature circular markings, making it one of the easiest numbered families to recognize visually.
- One Dot — The first circle tile, featuring a single circular symbol.
- Two Dots — A tile with two circular markings.
- Three Dots — Three circles arranged in a decorative pattern.
- Four Dots — Four circular symbols.
- Five Dots — A five-circle arrangement.
- Six Dots — A tile with six circular markings.
- Seven Dots — Seven circles arranged across the tile.
- Eight Dots — Eight circular symbols.
- Nine Dots — The highest numbered circle tile.
- One Circle — Another commonly used name for One Dot.
- Two Circles — An alternative English label for Two Dots.
- Three Circles — A descriptive name for the third circle tile.
- Four Circles — A simple reference to the fourth numbered tile.
- Five Circles — An alternative name for Five Dots.
- Nine Circles — Another recognizable label for the highest circle tile.
4. Mahjong Tile Names for the Character or Crak Suit
Character tiles feature Chinese numerals and a character associated with the word for ten thousand. English-speaking players often call this family cracks or craks.
- One Character — The first numbered tile in the character suit.
- Two Characters — The second tile in the family.
- Three Characters — A character tile representing three.
- Four Characters — The fourth numbered character tile.
- Five Characters — The fifth tile in the suit.
- Six Characters — A tile representing six.
- Seven Characters — The seventh character tile.
- Eight Characters — A tile representing eight.
- Nine Characters — The highest numbered character tile.
- One Crak — The English-language nickname for One Character.
- Two Craks — A common informal name for Two Characters.
- Three Craks — An alternative name for Three Characters.
- Four Craks — A shorthand reference to Four Characters.
- Five Craks — The informal name for Five Characters.
- Nine Craks — A shorthand label for the highest character tile.
5. Mahjong Tile Names for the Four Directional Winds
Wind tiles belong to the honor category rather than the numbered suits. They represent the four compass directions and play an important role in traditional mahjong combinations.
- East Wind — One of the four directional honor tiles.
- South Wind — The wind associated with the southern direction.
- West Wind — The tile representing the western direction.
- North Wind — The final member of the four-wind family.
- Eastern Wind — An alternative descriptive form of East Wind.
- Southern Wind — Another way to refer to South Wind.
- Western Wind — An alternative name for West Wind.
- Northern Wind — A descriptive variation of North Wind.
- East Wind Honor — A label emphasizing its honor-tile category.
- South Wind Honor — A descriptive name for the southern honor.
- West Wind Honor — A reference to the western honor tile.
- North Wind Honor — A descriptive name for the northern honor.
- Seat Wind — The wind associated with a player’s position.
- Round Wind — The prevailing wind for the current game round.
- Prevailing Wind — Another expression for the round’s dominant wind.
A useful distinction is that seat winds and round winds are roles assigned during play, not additional physical tile designs. The same East, South, West, and North tiles can serve different purposes depending on the game situation.
6. Mahjong Tile Names for the Three Dragon Honors
Dragon tiles are among the most recognizable honor tiles. Traditional mahjong uses three dragons: red, green, and white, each with its own design and scoring significance.
- Red Dragon — The red-colored dragon honor tile.
- Green Dragon — The green-colored dragon honor tile.
- White Dragon — The white or blank dragon tile.
- Red Dragon Honor — A descriptive name for the red honor.
- Green Dragon Honor — Another label for the green honor.
- White Dragon Honor — A reference to the white honor.
- Chun — The Chinese name commonly associated with the Red Dragon.
- Hatsu — The Japanese mahjong name for the Green Dragon.
- Haku — The Japanese name for the White Dragon.
- Hong Zhong — A Chinese-language name associated with the Red Dragon.
- Fa — A familiar shortened reference to the Green Dragon in Chinese terminology.
- Bai Ban — A Chinese term associated with the White Dragon.
- Red Center — A descriptive English reference to the Red Dragon.
- Green Prosperity — A commonly used interpretive label for the Green Dragon.
- White Board — An English nickname sometimes used for the blank White Dragon.
7. Mahjong Tile Names for Flowers and Seasonal Honors
Flower and season tiles are bonus tiles found in many traditional sets. Unlike numbered and honor tiles, they are generally treated as special bonus tiles rather than ordinary tiles for building standard sequences.
- Plum Blossom — A traditional flower tile often associated with winter.
- Orchid — A flower tile representing elegance and natural beauty.
- Chrysanthemum — A decorative flower tile often associated with autumn.
- Bamboo Flower — A flower tile commonly associated with summer.
- Spring — The first of the four seasonal tiles.
- Summer — The seasonal tile representing warmer weather.
- Autumn — A tile representing the fall season.
- Winter — The final tile in the seasonal family.
- Flower One — A descriptive label for the first flower position.
- Flower Two — A descriptive label for the second flower position.
- Flower Three — A reference to the third flower position.
- Flower Four — A reference to the fourth flower position.
- Season One — A descriptive label for the first seasonal position.
- Season Two — A label for the second seasonal position.
- Season Four — A reference to the fourth seasonal position.
8. Mahjong Tile Names for Bonus and Special Tiles
Some mahjong versions use additional tiles beyond the main numbered and honor families. Bonus tiles can affect scoring and replacement draws, depending on the rules being followed.
- Flower Bonus — A tile that provides a bonus under applicable rules.
- Season Bonus — A tile representing a seasonal scoring bonus.
- Joker Tile — A special tile used in American mahjong.
- Wild Tile — A general label for a tile that can substitute for others under specific rules.
- Blank Joker — A joker with a blank or simple design.
- Marked Joker — A joker featuring a distinctive printed symbol.
- Replacement Tile — A tile drawn to replace a bonus tile.
- Bonus Replacement — A descriptive name for the replacement-draw process or tile.
- Special Honor — A broad description for a non-numbered honor tile.
- Decorative Bonus — A label for an ornamental bonus tile.
- Animal Bonus — A tile featuring an animal illustration in some sets.
- Bird Bonus — A decorative animal-themed bonus tile.
- Plant Bonus — A special tile featuring botanical artwork.
- Seasonal Bonus — A general name for a seasonal tile.
- Variant Bonus — A descriptive term for a bonus tile found in a particular set or rule variation.
9. Mahjong Tile Names in Chinese and Japanese Traditions
Mahjong terminology changes across countries and playing styles. Chinese and Japanese names are especially useful for recognizing tiles in traditional sets and learning international game vocabulary.
- Wan — The Chinese term associated with the character suit.
- Tong — A Chinese term commonly associated with the circle suit.
- Tiao — A Chinese term associated with the bamboo suit.
- Feng — The Chinese word for wind, used in wind-tile terminology.
- Jian — A Chinese term associated with dragon honors.
- Dong — Chinese for East, used for the East Wind.
- Nan — Chinese for South, used for the South Wind.
- Xi — Chinese for West, used for the West Wind.
- Bei — Chinese for North, used for the North Wind.
- Manzu — The Japanese name for the character suit.
- Pinzu — The Japanese name for the circle suit.
- Souzu — The Japanese name for the bamboo suit.
- Kazehai — Japanese terminology for wind tiles.
- Sangenpai — Japanese terminology for the three dragon tiles.
- Yokuhai — A Japanese term for value honor tiles, including applicable winds and dragons.
10. Mahjong Tile Names for Numbered Combinations and Patterns
Understanding numbered tile names also means recognizing how they work together. These terms describe familiar arrangements that players encounter while building hands.
- Bamboo Sequence — Three consecutive bamboo tiles.
- Circle Sequence — Three consecutive circle tiles.
- Character Sequence — Three consecutive character tiles.
- Bamboo Pair — Two identical bamboo tiles.
- Circle Pair — Two identical circle tiles.
- Character Pair — Two identical character tiles.
- Bamboo Triplet — Three identical bamboo tiles.
- Circle Triplet — Three identical circle tiles.
- Character Triplet — Three identical character tiles.
- Bamboo Quad — Four identical bamboo tiles.
- Circle Quad — Four identical circle tiles.
- Character Quad — Four identical character tiles.
- Terminal One — A numbered one tile from any of the three suits.
- Terminal Nine — A numbered nine tile from any of the three suits.
- Middle Number Tile — A numbered tile from two through eight.
These are combination and classification names rather than additional physical tile designs. Recognizing them makes it easier to understand game instructions and descriptions of winning hands.
11. Mahjong Tile Names for Honor Combinations
Honor tiles cannot form ordinary numbered sequences. Instead, winds and dragons are used in pairs, triplets, and quads, depending on the hand and rules.
- East Pair — Two identical East Wind tiles.
- South Pair — Two identical South Wind tiles.
- West Pair — Two identical West Wind tiles.
- North Pair — Two identical North Wind tiles.
- Red Dragon Pair — Two identical Red Dragon tiles.
- Green Dragon Pair — Two identical Green Dragon tiles.
- White Dragon Pair — Two identical White Dragon tiles.
- East Triplet — Three East Wind tiles.
- South Triplet — Three South Wind tiles.
- West Triplet — Three West Wind tiles.
- North Triplet — Three North Wind tiles.
- Red Dragon Triplet — Three Red Dragon tiles.
- Green Dragon Triplet — Three Green Dragon tiles.
- White Dragon Triplet — Three White Dragon tiles.
- Honor Quad — Four identical honor tiles.
Honor combinations are important in many mahjong scoring systems. Their value depends on the particular rules, prevailing wind, seat wind, and scoring structure.
12. Mahjong Tile Names for Traditional Tile Designs and Artwork
Traditional mahjong sets are often beautifully decorated. The artwork helps distinguish tile families and gives each set its own visual personality.
- Bamboo Stalk Design — A traditional illustration representing the bamboo suit.
- Peacock Bamboo — A decorative name for bamboo artwork featuring bird-like patterns.
- Coin Circle Design — A circular pattern associated with the dot suit.
- Chinese Numeral Design — The number markings used on character tiles.
- Red Center Symbol — The traditional red marking associated with the Red Dragon.
- Green Prosperity Symbol — The green marking associated with the Green Dragon.
- Blank White Symbol — The plain design associated with the White Dragon.
- Directional Wind Marking — A symbol identifying one of the four winds.
- Plum Blossom Illustration — Artwork representing the plum flower.
- Orchid Illustration — A botanical design used on a flower tile.
- Chrysanthemum Illustration — An ornamental flower design.
- Bamboo Plant Illustration — A botanical design representing bamboo.
- Spring Blossom Artwork — A seasonal decorative illustration.
- Autumn Leaf Artwork — A design representing autumn.
- Winter Garden Artwork — A decorative seasonal image.
13. Mahjong Tile Names for American and Regional Game Variations
Different mahjong traditions use different tile arrangements and special pieces. American mahjong, for example, includes jokers and uses a National Mah Jongg League card to define playable hands.
- American Joker — A special tile used in American mahjong.
- American Flower — A flower tile used in American sets.
- Soap — The common nickname for the White Dragon in American mahjong.
- Craks — The informal name for character-suit tiles.
- Bams — The informal name for bamboo-suit tiles.
- Dots — The informal name for circle-suit tiles.
- One Bam Bird — A nickname referring to the distinctive One Bamboo artwork.
- Green Dragon Fa — A reference to the Green Dragon’s Chinese terminology.
- Red Dragon Chun — A reference to the Red Dragon’s Chinese terminology.
- White Dragon Haku — A reference to the White Dragon’s Japanese terminology.
- Flower Set — The collection of flower bonus tiles.
- Season Set — The collection of seasonal bonus tiles.
- Taiwanese Mahjong Tile — A general reference to tiles used in Taiwanese-style play.
- Japanese Riichi Tile — A tile used in Japanese riichi mahjong.
- Hong Kong Mahjong Tile — A general reference to tiles used in Hong Kong-style mahjong.
Not every regional game uses identical rules or special pieces. For example, Japanese riichi mahjong typically uses a 136-tile set, while American mahjong commonly uses a larger set with jokers and flowers.
14. Mahjong Tile Names for Learning, Sorting, and Remembering Tiles
Beginners often find it easier to learn mahjong when tiles are organized into simple groups. These descriptive labels can help with sorting, memorization, and recognizing patterns during practice.
- Numbered Suit Group — The collection of bamboo, circles, and characters.
- Bamboo Family — All nine numbered bamboo tiles.
- Circle Family — All nine numbered circle tiles.
- Character Family — All nine numbered character tiles.
- Wind Family — The four directional honor tiles.
- Dragon Family — The three dragon honor tiles.
- Flower Family — The four traditional flower bonus tiles.
- Season Family — The four traditional seasonal bonus tiles.
- Lower Number Tiles — Tiles numbered one through three.
- Central Number Tiles — Tiles numbered four through six.
- Upper Number Tiles — Tiles numbered seven through nine.
- Simple Tiles — Numbered tiles from two through eight.
- Terminal Tiles — Numbered ones and nines.
- Honor Tiles — Wind and dragon tiles.
- Bonus Tiles — Special flowers and seasons, where included.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mahjong Tile Names
1. How many tiles are in a standard mahjong set?
A traditional Chinese mahjong set commonly contains 144 tiles. This includes 108 numbered suit tiles, 28 honor tiles, and eight flower and season bonus tiles. Some regional versions use different totals.
2. What are the three main mahjong suits called?
The three numbered suits are:
- Bamboo (Bams)
- Circles (Dots)
- Characters (Craks)
Each suit contains nine numbered tiles, with four copies of each in a traditional set.
3. What are the four wind tiles in mahjong?
The four wind tiles are East, South, West, and North. They are honor tiles and can have special scoring importance depending on the player’s seat and the prevailing round.
4. What are the three dragon tiles in mahjong?
The three dragon tiles are Red Dragon, Green Dragon, and White Dragon. They are honor tiles and are also known by different names in Chinese and Japanese mahjong.
5. What does the One Bamboo tile represent?
One Bamboo is the first tile in the bamboo suit. In many traditional sets, it features a bird illustration rather than the simple bamboo-stick arrangement seen on other bamboo tiles.
6. What is the White Dragon called in American mahjong?
The White Dragon is commonly called the Soap tile in American mahjong because its plain rectangular appearance resembles a small bar of soap.
7. Are flower and season tiles used in every mahjong game?
No. Flower and season tiles are included in many traditional sets, but their use depends on the regional rules. Japanese riichi mahjong, for example, does not use the traditional flower and season bonus tiles.
8. What is the easiest way to memorize mahjong tile names?
Start by learning the three numbered suits, followed by the four winds and three dragons. Then practice identifying flower and season tiles. Sorting physical tiles into these families is a helpful way to remember their names and appearances.
Conclusion
Understanding mahjong tile names is one of the most useful steps toward learning the game.
The three numbered suits—bamboo, circles, and characters—form the foundation, while winds and dragons introduce the honor-tile category.
Flowers and seasons add another layer of traditional tile terminology and bonus scoring.
Although different mahjong variations use different rules and tile collections, learning the names and categories makes the game easier to follow.
Keep this guide handy when practicing, sorting a new set, or exploring Chinese, Japanese, American, and other mahjong traditions.
