1. Game Units in Mahjong

This section explains the basic “units” that structure a mahjong game—such as hands, rounds, and match formats. Understanding these terms will help you follow how a game progresses, when it ends, and how different match types are organized.

Hand (局 / Kyoku)

The basic unit of play. One hand runs from the initial deal (*haipai*) until a player wins (*agari*) or the hand ends in a drawn game (*ryūkyoku*). game unit

Drawn Hand (流局 / Ryūkyoku)

When no player wins and the hand ends in a draw. Often referred to as “the hand flowed.” hand result

Half-Game (半荘 / Hanchan)

A standard match structure consisting of the East Round and South Round (4 East hands + 4 South hands = 8 hands total, not counting repeats). match format

Four-Wind Game (一荘 / Ichan)

A full game covering East, South, West, and North rounds—four hands each for a total of 16 hands (before repeats). match format

East-Only Match (東風戦 / Tonpuu-sen)

A short match that ends after the East Round (4 hands). short match

South Round Set (南風戦 / Nanpuu-sen)

The four hands that make up the South Round—the second cycle of dealership after the East Round. round set

West Round Set (西風戦 / Shaa-puu-sen)

The four hands that make up the West Round—the third cycle. Used as an extension of a half-game or in a four-wind game. round set

North Round Set (北風戦 / Pei-puu-sen)

The four hands that make up the North Round—the fourth cycle. Used as an extension of a half-game or in a four-wind game. round set

All Last (オーラス)

The final hand of the match; in a half-game this is South 4. final hand

Penultimate Hand (ラス前)

The hand immediately before the last one (the second-to-last hand). timing

2. Table / “Ba” Terms

Mahjong is not only about tiles but also about the flow of the table. In this section, we’ll cover words that describe the current state of the table (ba), including rounds, continuation counters, and the atmosphere of play. These terms are often used to describe what’s happening in the match beyond just who won or lost.

Round Cycle (場 / Ba)

One full cycle in which each of the four players takes the dealer role once (counter-clockwise), starting from the initial dealer (*chīcha*). round

East Round (東場 / Tonba)

The first cycle of dealership—front half of a half-game. round

South Round (南場 / Nanba)

The second cycle of dealership—back half of a half-game. round

West Round (西場 / Shaaba)

The third cycle of dealership—used in four-wind games or as an extension. round

North Round (北場 / Peeba)

The fourth cycle of dealership—used in four-wind games or as an extension. round

Honba Counter (本場 / Honba)

A counter that increases when the dealer continues (wins) or when a hand ends in a no-ten draw with the dealer not losing the dealership. If a non-dealer wins, honba resets to 0. Example: “East 1, 2 honba” means the dealer has continued twice. counter

Volatile Round (荒れ場 / Areba)

A phase where high-value hands keep appearing and large point swings occur. table state

Quiet Round (小場 / Koba)

A phase with mostly small-value wins and modest point exchanges. table state

Honba Stick (積み棒 / Tsumibō)

The 100-point stick placed on the table to mark the current honba count (dealer continuations or certain drawn hands). marker

Entering South / West / North (南入 / Nannyū, 西入 / Shānyū, 北入 / Pēnyū)

When play proceeds into the South, West, or North Round respectively. progression

Flat Hand (平場 / Hiraba)

A hand with no honba on the table (no dealer continuations yet). state

One-Honba (一本場 / Ipponba)

The situation where one honba stick is currently on the table due to a dealer continuation or a qualifying draw. state

Dealer Continuation (連荘 / Renchan)

When the same player remains the dealer for consecutive hands (typically by winning or via certain draw conditions). dealership

Discard River Area (河 / Kawa)

The central table space surrounded by the walls where players line up their discards (the “rivers”). table layout

Opening the Wall (開門 / Kaimen)

Cutting and opening the wall for the initial deal according to the dealer’s dice result. setup

First East Hand (東発 / Tonpatsu)

The very first hand of the match: East 1 (the initial dealer is decided and the game begins). start

3. Player Roles and Seating

Every player at the table has a role and a seat position that matters. Here, you’ll learn how to identify the dealer, non-dealers, and relative seating positions. These terms are essential when discussing strategy, order of play, and how scoring changes depending on your role.

Dealer (親 / Oya)

The East seat in the current hand (*toncha*). role

Non-dealers (子 / Ko)

The three players other than the dealer: South (*nancha*), West (*shaacha*), and North (*peicha*). role

Starting Dealer (起家 / Chīcha)

The initial dealer at the start of the match; for example, the dealer for East 1 in a half-game. start role

East Seat (東家 / Toncha)

The dealer seat for the current hand. seat

South Seat (南家 / Nancha)

The player to the dealer’s right. seat

West Seat (西家 / Shaacha)

The player opposite the dealer. seat

North Seat (北家 / Peicha)

The player to the dealer’s left. seat

Player to Your Left (上家 / Kamicha)

The player immediately to your left (plays before you). relative seat

Player to Your Right (下家 / Shimocha)

The player immediately to your right (plays after you). relative seat

Player Opposite You (対面 / Toimen)

The player sitting directly across from you. relative seat

Temporary East (仮東 / Kari-ton)

The seat determined by drawing the East tile when deciding initial seating before the match begins. seating

Temporary Dealer (仮親 / Kari-oya)

The player who sits at the position indicated by the dice rolled by the Temporary East when determining starting seats. seating

Conclusion

This expanded glossary clarifies how mahjong progresses (hands, rounds, and match formats), how the table state is tracked (honba, renchan), and how seating and roles work. Use these terms as a reference while learning rules, scoring, and strategy.