01
Characters
Read the Chinese number above 萬 (ten thousand).
一萬1
二萬2
三萬3
四萬4
五萬5
六萬6
七萬7
八萬8
九萬9
Hong Kong Mahjong · Visual guide
Meet every tile.
One family at a time.
Start with the 34 core tile types. Learn the three suits first, then add Winds and Dragons.
Start with the suitsThe map
Three suits.
Seven honors.
A standard core set has 34 different tile types: nine Characters, nine Circles, nine Bamboo, four Winds and three Dragons. There are normally four copies of each core tile. Flowers and Seasons are bonus tiles used by many tables, but confirm before play.
Part one
The three numbered suits
Only numbered suit tiles can form a Chow — three consecutive numbers from the same suit.
02
Circles
Count the round coin-like symbols from one to nine.
一筒1
二筒2
三筒3
四筒4
五筒5
六筒6
七筒7
八筒8
九筒9
03
Bamboo
Count the bamboo sticks; the 1 Bamboo is often a bird.
一索1
二索2
三索3
四索4
五索5
六索6
七索7
八索8
九索9
Part two
Winds and Dragons
These seven honors can make pairs, Pungs and Kongs — but never a Chow.
東
WindEast
南
WindSouth
西
WindWest
北
WindNorth
中
DragonRed Dragon
發
DragonGreen Dragon
白
DragonWhite Dragon
Table-dependent
Flowers and Seasons
These are bonus tiles rather than ordinary hand-building tiles. When drawn, they are usually revealed and replaced, but the details and scoring vary by table.
Ask before playAre Flowers and Seasons used? How are they scored?
梅Plum
蘭Orchid
菊Chrysanthemum
竹Bamboo
春Spring
夏Summer
秋Autumn
冬Winter
Quick check
Which one is an honor tile?
Honor tiles are Winds and Dragons. They have no numbered sequence.
You know the families
Now build your first hand.
Return to the beginner lesson and use these tile families to recognize Chow, Pung, Kong and Pair.