Mahjong Tile Meanings

Mahjong tiles are organized into numbered suits and special groups.

• Craks: Numbered one through nine and traditionally associated with characters.

• Bams: Numbered one through nine and associated with bamboo. The One Bam is often represented by a bird.

• Dots: Numbered one through nine and represented by circles.

• Winds: North, East, West, and South.

• Dragons: Red, Green, and White dragons.

• Flowers: Unnumbered tiles that may be used interchangeably.

• Jokers: Wild tiles used in groups of three or more identical tiles.

Understanding tile meanings and symbols helps players read the card, recognize patterns, and organize their racks more efficiently.