American mahjong tile names
An American mahjong set has 152 tiles: numbered Bams, Craks, and Dots; four winds; three dragons; eight flowers; and eight jokers. The 1 Bam is usually a bird, the white dragon is called soap, and each dragon has a suit partner. Learn the families first, then practice saying each tile's table name.
Start with families, not 152 separate faces
A standard American mahjong set has 152 tiles: 108 numbered tiles, 16 winds, 12 dragons, eight flowers, and eight jokers. You do not need to memorize that count before you begin. First learn which family a tile belongs to, then read its number or name.
Spread out a few tiles and make loose family groups. Say the family name as you place each tile. That small habit turns a crowded pile into a few recognizable groups.
Quick check: can you point to the numbered suits without reading every tile?
Bams, Craks, and Dots
The three numbered suits are Bams, Craks, and Dots. Bams are also called bamboo, Craks are also called characters, and Dots are also called circles. Each suit runs from 1 through 9, with four copies of every number.
The often shows a bird instead of one bamboo mark. If it looks like a flower at first, check the corner number and call it “one bam.”
Craks carry character artwork, so the corner number is your best friend while you are learning. Say “one crak,” “two crak,” and so on.
Dots use round marks that you can count, then confirm with the corner number. Work through one full suit at a time instead of bouncing among all 27 faces.
Once the three rows feel familiar, mix one tile from each suit and practice switching names without losing the number.
Common mistake: the bird is 1 Bam, not a flower.
The four winds
The winds are East, South, West, and North, with four copies of each. Learn them as four spoken names rather than four numbered tiles.
These are tile names. You are not trying to match them to where you happen to be sitting in the room.
Quick check: shuffle these four and name each one from its face.
Red, green, and soap
The dragons are red, green, and white, with four copies of each. The white dragon 
is usually called soap, and it can represent zero when a zero is needed.
Each dragon also has a suit partner. Green goes with Bams, red goes with Craks, and soap goes with Dots.
Keep those as three simple picture pairs. You do not need a full winning hand to learn the connections.
Common mistake: red artwork alone does not make a tile a red dragon. Check whether the tile also has a Crak number.
Flowers all play alike
The eight flowers may have different plants, seasons, or labels on their faces. In American mahjong, all eight count as the same kind of tile.
Say “flower” for every one. There is no need to identify the pictured plant or season.
Jokers are their own family
A standard set has eight jokers. For now, your only job is to recognize and say “joker.”
Joker rules explains where this tile may be used and how an exchange works. Keeping the name separate from the rule makes both easier to remember.
Sort a rack you can read
You may arrange your concealed tiles in any order that helps you. While you are learning, pull out winds, dragons, flowers, and jokers, group the three numbered suits, then put each suit from low to high.
Say each name as you move the tile. Then mix the row and do it once more.
When the faces feel familiar, continue to setting up the table.
Common questions
How many tiles do you need to play American mahjong?
Standard American mahjong uses 152 tiles: 108 numbered suit tiles, 16 winds, 12 dragons, 8 flowers, and 8 jokers. The numbered tiles come in three suits, with ranks 1 through 9 and four copies of each rank. Some sets include extra blanks, flowers, or jokers. Put those extras aside before you build the walls. Learn more in Meet the tile families.
What are some common terms used in American Mahjong?
Start with the everyday tile names. The numbered suits are Bams, Craks, and Dots, also called bamboo, characters, and circles. The four winds are East, South, West, and North. The dragons are red, green, and white, with white commonly called soap. The remaining families are flowers and jokers. These names are enough to begin the tile-recognition drill and announce ordinary discards. Learn more in Meet the tile families.
Why is the white dragon called soap?
In American mahjong, the white dragon is commonly called soap. The exact origin of the nickname is unclear. At the table, remember that soap goes with Dots and can represent zero when a zero is needed. When you discard the white dragon, say “soap” so the other players know which tile you placed down. Learn more in Meet the tile families.
What are the four winds in Mahjong?
The four winds in American mahjong are East, South, West, and North. A standard set has four copies of each, for 16 wind tiles total. Name each tile by the wind shown on its face. During setup, learn the seats from your own point of view: the players are to your right, across from you, and to your left. Learn more in Meet the tile families.
Does American mahjong use 8 or 10 jokers?
A standard 152-tile American mahjong set uses 8 jokers. Some sets include extra pieces, so separate those before building the walls. You need 152 playing tiles for the standard setup. During play, a joker can stand for a matching tile only in a group of three or more. It cannot stand alone or be used in a pair. Learn more in Meet the tile families.
How many flowers are you supposed to play with in American Mahjong?
Use eight flower tiles in a standard American mahjong set. The artwork may show different flowers or seasons, but all eight play alike as flowers. You do not need to match a particular picture or season. If your set includes extra decorative flower or season tiles, put the extras aside before building the walls so you still have 152 playing tiles. Learn more in Meet the tile families.