What is mahjong and how many people play it?

Mahjong is a tile game normally played by four people seated around a table. Each player tries to be first to complete a full hand of tiles by drawing and discarding on their turns.

What tiles are used in mahjong?

There are three numbered suits — Dots (筒), Bamboo (索) and Characters (萬), each numbered 1 to 9 — plus special honour tiles: the four Winds (East, South, West, North) and the Dragons, which have no numbers.

What is the difference between a Pung and a Chow?

A Pung is three identical tiles, like three of the same Dragon. A Chow is three tiles in a running sequence from the same suit, such as 4–5–6 of Bamboo.

How do you win at mahjong?

To win you need four sets — any mix of Pungs and Chows — plus one matching pair called the 'eyes'. The first player to complete this combination wins the round.

Is mahjong suitable for primary-school children to learn?

Yes. The core ideas — sorting tiles into suits, recognising sets and counting to a winning hand — are simple enough for ages 6–12, and the game also builds patience, memory and good sportsmanship.

How to Play Mahjong

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Mahjong is a tile-based game for four players, usually played around a square table, that is especially popular among families in Singapore during festive occasions like Chinese New Year. The goal is to be the first to build a complete hand from a mix of drawing new tiles and discarding ones you don't need.

The tiles fall into three numbered suits — Dots (筒), Bamboo (索) and Characters (萬) — each running from 1 to 9, plus special 'honour' tiles: the four Winds (East, South, West, North) and the Dragons, which carry no numbers. Players form their hand out of sets. A Pung is three identical tiles, while a Chow is three tiles in a sequence from the same suit, such as 3–4–5.

A winning hand is made of four sets (any combination of Pungs and Chows) plus one matching pair, known as the 'eyes'. On each turn a player draws one tile and throws one away, so a hand always stays the same size. Beyond the rules, mahjong rewards patience, observation and good table manners — waiting for your turn and keeping the game friendly.

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Welcome!

🀄✨ Let's Learn Mahjong! Mahjong is a fun tile game played by families all over Singapore — especially at Chinese New Year. Four players sit around a table, and everyone tries to build a winning set of tiles. 🧩 The big idea: Mahjong is like a giant matching puzzle. You collect little tiles and group them into neat sets. The first player to finish their puzzle shouts “Mahjong!” and wins. Tap Next to meet the tiles. There are fun things to tap and play on the way! 👉
The Three Suits

Step 1 Meet the Three Suits Most tiles come in three families called suits. Each suit has numbers from 1 to 9. Tap each card to see how to read them! Dots (筒) tap to learn Round circles! Count the dots — this one shows 5. Easy to spot. 🔵 Bamboo (索) tap to learn Little green sticks of bamboo. Count the sticks — this one is a 3. 🎋 Characters (萬) tap to learn A number on top and the word 萬 (“ten thousand”) below. This one is an 8. 🔢 Open all three cards to become a tile-reader! 📖
Special Tiles

Step 2 Special “Honour” Tiles Besides numbers, there are special tiles with no numbers — the Winds and the Dragons. Tap to peek! The 4 Winds tap to learn East 東, South 南, West 西, North 北 — one for each direction, like a compass. 🧭 The 3 Dragons tap to learn Red 中, Green 發, and the blank White dragon 白. They are lucky tiles! 🐉 💡 You don't need to read Chinese to play. Just remember: match the picture with the same picture!
Make a Pung

Step 3 A Set of Three Same — a “Pung” The first kind of set is a Pung: three tiles that are exactly the same. Like three twins... triplets! 👯 🎯 Your turn: Tap the 3 matching tiles in the tray to build a Pung. Pick tiles that look identical! Tap 3 tiles that are all the same…
Make a Chow

Step 4 A Run of Three — a “Chow” The other kind of set is a Chow: three tiles in a row from the same suit, like 3–4–5. Like climbing stairs! 🪜 🎯 Your turn: Tap 3 bamboo tiles that go in order (1-2-3 in a row). They must be the same suit AND in a row! Find three bamboo tiles that count up in a row…
Draw & Discard

Step 5 How a Turn Works: Draw & Throw On your turn you draw 1 new tile, look at your hand, then throw away 1 tile you don't need. Your hand always goes back to the same size. It's like swapping one card to slowly improve your puzzle! Your hand: 🀄 Draw a tile Press “Draw a tile” to start your turn.
A Winning Hand

Step 6 What a Winner Looks Like To win, you need 4 sets (Pungs or Chows) plus 1 pair. The pair is two matching tiles called the “eyes” 👀. Here is a finished winning hand: 🎯 Find the eyes: Tap the 2 matching tiles that form the pair. (Hint: a pair is only TWO of the same — not three!) Tap the two tiles that are a matching pair… 🎉 Mahjong! That's a winning hand!
Good Manners

Step 7 Be a Friendly Player 🤝 Mahjong is mostly about having fun together. Here are kind habits good players follow: 🔇 Wait quietly for your turn — don't grab tiles early. 🙂 Say “Mahjong!” happily when you win, and “Good game!” when you don't. 🧹 Help shuffle and stack the tiles for the next round. 🧠 Watch what others throw away — it helps you guess what they're collecting! 🌟 Mahjong is a thinking game for fun and family time. Enjoy it with people you love — winning is just a happy bonus!
You Did It!

🏆🀄 You're a Mahjong Beginner! Look how much you learned today: 🔵Three suits: Dots, Bamboo, and Characters, each numbered 1–9. 🐉Honour tiles: the 4 Winds and the 3 Dragons. 👯Pung: three tiles exactly the same. 🪜Chow: three tiles in a row, same suit. 🔁Each turn: draw one tile, throw one away. 👀To win: 4 sets + 1 pair = “Mahjong!” Great job! Now you can join the next family game. 🎉 Tap Start again if you want another round of practice!

Frequently asked questions

What is mahjong and how many people play it?: Mahjong is a tile game normally played by four people seated around a table. Each player tries to be first to complete a full hand of tiles by drawing and discarding on their turns.
What tiles are used in mahjong?: There are three numbered suits — Dots (筒), Bamboo (索) and Characters (萬), each numbered 1 to 9 — plus special honour tiles: the four Winds (East, South, West, North) and the Dragons, which have no numbers.
What is the difference between a Pung and a Chow?: A Pung is three identical tiles, like three of the same Dragon. A Chow is three tiles in a running sequence from the same suit, such as 4–5–6 of Bamboo.
How do you win at mahjong?: To win you need four sets — any mix of Pungs and Chows — plus one matching pair called the 'eyes'. The first player to complete this combination wins the round.
Is mahjong suitable for primary-school children to learn?: Yes. The core ideas — sorting tiles into suits, recognising sets and counting to a winning hand — are simple enough for ages 6–12, and the game also builds patience, memory and good sportsmanship.

How to Play Mahjong

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