Mahjong Tiles Explained: Symbols, Suits, Winds, Dragons and Bonus Tiles

A standard mahjong set has 144 tiles. Knowing the groups makes the game far easier to follow.

The three suits

Each suit is numbered one to nine, with four of each tile. Characters (萬) use Chinese numerals, Dots (筒) show circles, and Bamboo (索) show sticks — the one-bamboo is often drawn as a bird. These make up most of your runs and triplets.

Honour tiles

The four Winds — East (東), South (南), West (西), North (北) — relate to seating and the round, and can score bonus points. The three Dragons — Red (中), Green (發), White (白) — form valued sets in many versions.

Bonus tiles

Most sets include four Flowers and four Seasons (春夏秋冬). These are not part of a normal hand; if you draw one, you set it aside and draw a replacement, usually for a small bonus.

Reading tiles quickly is the biggest help for new players. A simple way to learn: lay out one full suit, then the Winds, Dragons, Flowers and Seasons, and say each group out loud. After one pass you will recognise almost everything in play.