Mahjong tile names practice

This drill is for new players learning the names heard at an American mahjong table.

How the drill works

Look at the tile before you look at the choices. Say the name aloud, then tap the answer that matches what you said. The goal is a useful table habit, not a speed score.

If the face is unfamiliar, start with its family. Round marks point you toward Dots. Bamboo marks or the familiar bird point you toward Bams. A numbered character face belongs with Craks. Lettered winds, dragons, flowers, and jokers each have their own visual anchors.

After the naming round, you will see a mixed rack. Use tap controls or keyboard controls to place related tiles together. Use this practice order:

Sort your concealed tiles in whatever order helps you read them. For this course, start by grouping tile families, then put each numbered suit in rank order.

That order is a learning aid. At your own table, the useful arrangement is the one that lets you read your tiles without losing track of a family.

What your result means

The summary separates first-try answers from tiles you reviewed with help. Missing a face does not take anything away. It simply keeps that face in the review mix so you see it again.

Your sorting result is tracked separately from naming. A completed rack shows that you can recognize relationships between tiles, not that you need to arrange every future rack in exactly the same way.

Tile 1 of 8

What is this tile?

Text version

Tile names and tips

1 Bam. Say “one bam.” Look for the bird used on the 1 Bam.
2 Bam. Say “two bam.” Count two bamboo marks and check the corner number.
3 Bam. Say “three bam.” Count three bamboo marks and check the corner number.
4 Bam. Say “four bam.” Count four bamboo marks and check the corner number.
5 Bam. Say “five bam.” Find the center bamboo mark in the five-mark pattern.
6 Bam. Say “six bam.” Read the bamboo pattern, then confirm the corner number.
7 Bam. Say “seven bam.” Read the bamboo pattern, then confirm the corner number.
8 Bam. Say “eight bam.” Read the bamboo pattern, then confirm the corner number.
9 Bam. Say “nine bam.” Read the bamboo pattern, then confirm the corner number.
1 Crak. Say “one crak.” Use the Arabic corner number beside the character design.
2 Crak. Say “two crak.” Use the Arabic corner number beside the character design.
3 Crak. Say “three crak.” Use the Arabic corner number beside the character design.
4 Crak. Say “four crak.” Use the Arabic corner number beside the character design.
5 Crak. Say “five crak.” Use the Arabic corner number beside the character design.
6 Crak. Say “six crak.” Use the Arabic corner number beside the character design.
7 Crak. Say “seven crak.” Use the Arabic corner number beside the character design.
8 Crak. Say “eight crak.” Use the Arabic corner number beside the character design.
9 Crak. Say “nine crak.” Use the Arabic corner number beside the character design.
1 Dot. Say “one dot.” Count the round dot marks and check the corner number.
2 Dot. Say “two dot.” Count the round dot marks and check the corner number.
3 Dot. Say “three dot.” Count the round dot marks and check the corner number.
4 Dot. Say “four dot.” Count the round dot marks and check the corner number.
5 Dot. Say “five dot.” Find the center circle in the five-dot pattern.
6 Dot. Say “six dot.” Count the round dot marks and check the corner number.
7 Dot. Say “seven dot.” Count the round dot marks and check the corner number.
8 Dot. Say “eight dot.” Count the round dot marks and check the corner number.
9 Dot. Say “nine dot.” Count the round dot marks and check the corner number.
East. Say “east.” Look for the letter E on the wind tile.
South. Say “south.” Look for the letter S on the wind tile.
West. Say “west.” Look for the letter W on the wind tile.
North. Say “north.” Look for the letter N on the wind tile.
Red Dragon. Say “red.” Use the red color and dragon label together.
Green Dragon. Say “green.” Use the green color and dragon label together.
Soap. Say “soap.” The mostly blank or framed white dragon is called soap.
Flower. Say “flower.” Focus on the flower label, not the specific blossom.
Flower. Say “flower.” Focus on the flower label, not the specific blossom.
Flower. Say “flower.” Focus on the flower label, not the specific blossom.
Flower. Say “flower.” Focus on the flower label, not the specific blossom.
Flower. Say “flower.” Focus on the flower label, not the specific blossom.
Flower. Say “flower.” Focus on the flower label, not the specific blossom.
Flower. Say “flower.” Focus on the flower label, not the specific blossom.
Flower. Say “flower.” Focus on the flower label, not the specific blossom.
Joker. Say “joker.” Look for the word JOKER or the set's special joker artwork.

Sorting feedback

family-split: Move {tile} beside the other tiles in its family.
suit-unordered: You found the right suit for {tile}. Now put that suit in number order.
honors-mixed: Keep {tile} with the winds or dragons before you finish the numbered suits.
sorted: Your rack is grouped by family, and each numbered suit runs from low to high.

When you finish, review the tile families or go to practice home to choose the calls-and-jokers drill.

Common questions

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.

How can I practice American Mahjong by myself?

Start with skills you can practice from visible tiles. Name one face at a time, then sort a mixed rack by family and put each numbered suit in order. Next, use small examples to compare a discard with a stated group or a natural tile with an exposed joker. You do not need an annual card for these exercises, and they never ask you to build a complete hand. Learn more in Shuffle and build four walls.