[Glossary of Mahjong Terms #5] Mahjong Draw, Discards, Calling Terms
Mahjong Draw, Discards & Calling Terms
Drawing, discarding, and calling tiles shape the rhythm of every mahjong hand. This guide explains essential terms for draws & discards, calling (naki / fūro), and closed/open-hand rules. Master these words to follow real games and communicate clearly at the table.
1. Draw & Discard Terms
These are the core actions that happen every turn: you draw from the wall, then discard to the river. Knowing these words helps you track information and tempo.
- 自摸 / Tsumo
- Drawing one tile from the wall on your turn. draw
- 打牌 / Dahai
- Discarding a tile into the river after a draw or after calling (pon/chi/kan). discard
- 捨牌 / Sutehai
- The discarded tiles in the river, or the row of discards placed on the table. discard
- ツモ切り / Tsumogiri
- Discarding the tile you just drew without adding it to your hand. discard
2. Calling Terms (Naki / Fūro)
Calling lets you take certain opponents’ discards to complete sets. Called sets are exposed (open), which speeds up hand completion but usually reduces yaku value.
- ポン / Pon
- Claiming a discard to complete a triplet (刻子 / kōtsu) when you have a pair. The set is revealed. call
- チー / Chi
- Claiming a discard from the player to your left to complete a sequence (順子 / shuntsu). call
- 明カン / Minkan (Open Kan)
- Adding a discard to three identical tiles in your hand to form a quad (槓子 / kantsu); exposed on the table. kan
- 暗カン / Ankan (Closed Kan)
- Forming a quad using four identical tiles in your hand (drawing the fourth yourself); revealed but closed. kan
- 空ポン・空チー・空カン
- Declaring a call then retracting it; considered improper and often penalized by house rules. error
- 誤ポン・誤チー・誤カン
- Mistaken calls. Typically penalized (e.g., with a 1000-point kyōtaku stick). error
- 副露 / Fūro
- The general act of calling another player’s discard (pon, chi, minkan) to complete sets. call
- 鳴く(晒す・叩く) / Naku (to call/open)
- To take a discard and expose the resulting set. call
- ポン材 / Ponzai
- A pair used as “material” to make a pon. hand shape
- ポン聴 / Ponten
- Reaching tenpai (ready hand) after making a pon. hand state
3. Menzen & Kui-Related Terms
In Riichi mahjong, some yaku require a fully closed hand (menzen), while others remain valid when open. House rules may vary—always check whether kuitan and atozuke are allowed.
- メンゼン役 / Menzen-yaku
- Yaku that require a fully closed hand (no calls). closed
- 門前 / Menzen
- Keeping your hand closed without calling discards; all tiles are self-drawn. closed
- 喰い下がり / Kuisagari
- A rule where certain yaku lose 1 han in value when the hand is open (after calling). open hand
- 喰い制限なし / Kui-seigen-nashi
- Rule variation where the yaku remains valid even if the hand is open. open hand
- 喰いタン / Kuitan
- Open tanyao: completing the 2–8 sequences by calling discards (if allowed by the rules). open hand
Tip: Understanding draw, discard, and calling terms helps you follow the action, judge risk, and decide when to stay closed or open your hand for speed.