Glossary & FAQ

Find your way around common Mahjong terms and questions.

Wall: The stacked rows of face-down tiles in front of the players. Tiles are drawn from the wall during play.
Rack: The holder for your private tiles.
Discard: A tile placed face up in the center of the table after a player’s turn.
Exposure: A completed group displayed face up on top of the rack.
Natural tile: The actual tile represented by a Joker.
Single: One tile.
Pair: Two identical tiles.
Pung: Three identical tiles.
Kong: Four identical tiles.
Quint: Five identical tiles.
Joker: A wild tile that may substitute for tiles in eligible groups of three or more.; A Joker cannot be used for a single or pair.
Charleston: The tile-passing sequence performed before normal play.; The passing sequence is:; First Charleston: 3 right → 3 across → 3 left; Second Charleston: 3 left → 3 across → 3 right; The second Charleston is optional.
Courtesy pass: An optional final exchange of 1 to 3 tiles with the player across from you.
Mahjong: A complete winning hand that exactly matches a valid hand on the current card.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tiles do I start with?

East, the dealer, starts with 14 tiles.

The other players start with 13.

What do I do on a normal turn?

Draw one tile, decide what to keep, then discard one tile face up and name it aloud.

Do I have to memorize the card?

No.

Keep the card in front of you and refer to it throughout the game.

Can a Joker be anything?

Not quite.

A Joker can substitute in eligible groups of three or more. It cannot substitute for a tile used as a single or in a pair.

Can I pass a Joker during the Charleston?

No. Do not pass Jokers during the Charleston.

Can I take someone else’s Joker?

You may exchange for an exposed Joker on your turn when you have the matching natural tile. Place the natural tile into the exposed group and take the Joker.