# Mahjong Terms Glossary: Pong, Kong, Chow & Self-Draw

- Canonical page: <https://tileleague.com/library/mahjong-terms>
- Language: English (`en`)
- Purpose: A searchable mahjong glossary with English names, Cantonese Jyutping, Mandarin Pinyin and clear examples of pong, kong, chow, self-draw and ready hands.
- Content updated: 2026-10-26
- Maintained by: Mahjong Club, published by Orion Designs LLC
- Maps: [Learn Taiwanese mahjong](https://tileleague.com/topics/learn.md) · [Complete content map](https://tileleague.com/sitemap.md)
- Other languages: [粵語](https://tileleague.com/yue/library/mahjong-terms.md) · [简体中文](https://tileleague.com/zh-Hans/library/mahjong-terms.md) · [繁體中文](https://tileleague.com/zh-Hant/library/mahjong-terms.md)

Learn to play

## Mahjong terms: English, Cantonese & Mandarin

Find the word, understand the call, and follow the conversation at the table.

[By Mahjong Club](https://tileleague.com/about.md) Updated 26 October 2026 9 min read

### The same tiles, a different table vocabulary.

Pong means claiming a discard to make three identical tiles; kong means declaring four identical tiles; chow means claiming a discard to make a sequence. Self-draw, 自摸, means winning with a tile you draw yourself. Those four ideas will carry you through many first conversations about mahjong.

This glossary puts English names beside Cantonese and Mandarin equivalents. It focuses on the vocabulary shared by Chinese table games, with riichi identified where the distinction matters. It is a language reference, not a rulebook: knowing a call’s name does not establish that your hand may make it.

### Read the pronunciation without changing the rules.

Cantonese uses Jyutping here: the number after each syllable marks its tone. Mandarin uses Pinyin with tone marks. Traditional and Simplified Chinese are writing systems, not different spoken languages; where characters differ, both forms appear in the Mandarin field.

Names vary by family and region. English “pong” and “pung” are familiar spellings, not precise Jyutping. Cantonese 上 is shown as soeng5 when calling chow; 上家, the preceding player, uses soeng6 gaa1. 自摸 is heard with both mo2 and the changed tone mo1. A spelling difference does not by itself identify a different rule.

[Jyutping scheme and tone guide](https://lshk.org/jyutping-scheme/) · [CantoDict: 自摸 pronunciation](https://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/16876/)

### Find a term.

Search by an English name, Chinese characters or romanization. The definition describes the action or hand shape; an example shows how to recognize it. For the pictures and names of individual tiles, keep the tile guide nearby.

Search the glossary:

Terms shown: 28 / 28

Calls and wins

#### [Chow / sheung](https://tileleague.com/library/mahjong-terms.md#term-chow)

**Cantonese · Jyutping**

上 · soeng5

**Mandarin · Pinyin**

吃 · chī

A call that claims the preceding player’s discard to complete a same-suit sequence. “Chow” also names the resulting set.

Holding 4–5 Bamboo, you can chow the preceding player’s 3 or 6 Bamboo when the rules allow.

Calls and wins

#### [Pong / pung](https://tileleague.com/library/mahjong-terms.md#term-pong)

**Cantonese · Jyutping**

碰 · pung3

**Mandarin · Pinyin**

碰 · pèng

A call that uses a discard and two identical tiles from your hand to expose a triplet. The discard can come from any opponent.

Calls and wins

#### [Kong / gong](https://tileleague.com/library/mahjong-terms.md#term-kong)

**Cantonese · Jyutping**

槓 · gong3

**Mandarin · Pinyin**

槓／杠 · gàng

A declared group of four identical tiles. It occupies one set position; the replacement draw preserves the rest of the hand’s structure.

Calls and wins

#### [Concealed kong](https://tileleague.com/library/mahjong-terms.md#term-concealed-kong)

**Cantonese · Jyutping**

暗槓 · am3 gong3

**Mandarin · Pinyin**

暗槓／暗杠 · àn gàng

A kong made with all four tiles from your own hand, declared at a permitted time. It is still declared, even when some faces are covered.

Calls and wins

#### [Added kong](https://tileleague.com/library/mahjong-terms.md#term-added-kong)

**Cantonese · Jyutping**

加槓 · gaa1 gong3

**Mandarin · Pinyin**

加槓／加杠 · jiā gàng

Adding the fourth matching tile to a triplet you previously exposed by calling pong. This is different from claiming a discard while holding three.

Calls and wins

#### [Robbing a kong](https://tileleague.com/library/mahjong-terms.md#term-robbing-kong)

**Cantonese · Jyutping**

搶槓 · coeng2 gong3

**Mandarin · Pinyin**

搶槓／抢杠 · qiǎng gàng

Winning on a tile another player is adding to an exposed triplet. Some rules allow narrowly defined concealed-kong exceptions; check the named ruleset.

Calls and wins

#### [Win / mahjong](https://tileleague.com/library/mahjong-terms.md#term-win)

**Cantonese · Jyutping**

食糊 · sik6 wu4

**Mandarin · Pinyin**

胡牌 · hú pái

A declaration that the whole hand satisfies the winning requirements. Completing one set is not a win; shape, scoring eligibility and claim restrictions all matter.

Calls and wins

#### [Self-draw](https://tileleague.com/library/mahjong-terms.md#term-self-draw)

**Cantonese · Jyutping**

自摸 · zi6 mo2 / zi6 mo1

**Mandarin · Pinyin**

自摸 · zì mō

Winning with a tile you draw yourself, rather than a claimed discard. An ordinary draw that does not win the hand is simply drawing a tile.

Calls and wins

#### [Deal in](https://tileleague.com/library/mahjong-terms.md#term-deal-in)

**Cantonese · Jyutping**

出銃 · ceot1 cung3

**Mandarin · Pinyin**

放槍／放枪 · fàng qiāng；放炮 · fàng pào

Discarding the tile an opponent claims to win. “Discard win” describes the winner’s side of that event; payment depends on the rules.

Hand shapes

#### [Sequence / run](https://tileleague.com/library/mahjong-terms.md#term-sequence)

**Cantonese · Jyutping**

順子 · seon6 zi2

**Mandarin · Pinyin**

順子／顺子 · shùn zi

Three consecutive ranks in one numbered suit. Winds and dragons cannot form sequences, and 8–9–1 does not wrap around.

Hand shapes

#### [Triplet](https://tileleague.com/library/mahjong-terms.md#term-triplet)

**Cantonese · Jyutping**

刻子 · hak1 zi2

**Mandarin · Pinyin**

刻子 · kè zi

Three identical tiles. A triplet may be assembled privately in your hand or exposed by claiming a discard with pong.

Hand shapes

#### [Pair / eyes](https://tileleague.com/library/mahjong-terms.md#term-pair)

**Cantonese · Jyutping**

對子 · deoi3 zi2；眼 · ngaan5

**Mandarin · Pinyin**

對子／对子 · duì zi；將眼／将眼 · jiàng yǎn

Two identical tiles. “Eyes” names the pair completing a standard set-based winning hand, not every pair you happen to hold.

Hand shapes

#### [Concealed / closed hand](https://tileleague.com/library/mahjong-terms.md#term-concealed-hand)

**Cantonese · Jyutping**

門清 · mun4 cing1

**Mandarin · Pinyin**

門清／门清 · mén qīng

A hand with no open set claims. Rules differ on concealed kongs and the scoring of a set completed by a winning discard.

Ready hands

#### [Ready hand](https://tileleague.com/library/mahjong-terms.md#term-ready)

**Cantonese · Jyutping**

叫糊 · giu3 wu4

**Mandarin · Pinyin**

聽牌／听牌 · tīng pái

A hand one tile away from a complete winning shape. Being ready does not override a minimum score or another restriction on winning.

Ready hands

#### [Single wait](https://tileleague.com/library/mahjong-terms.md#term-single-wait)

**Cantonese · Jyutping**

單吊眼 · daan1 diu3 ngaan5

**Mandarin · Pinyin**

單吊／单吊 · dān diào

A wait to pair one tile after all required sets are complete. This names the shape of the wait, not a promise that the tile is still available.

Ready hands

#### [Riichi](https://tileleague.com/library/mahjong-terms.md#term-riichi)

**Cantonese · Jyutping**

立直 · lap6 zik6

**Mandarin · Pinyin**

立直 · lì zhí

A Japanese-mahjong declaration for an eligible closed ready hand, normally with a 1,000-point deposit and restrictions on later changes. It is not a synonym for ready.

Table actions

#### [Draw a tile](https://tileleague.com/library/mahjong-terms.md#term-draw-tile)

**Cantonese · Jyutping**

摸牌 · mo2 paai2

**Mandarin · Pinyin**

摸牌 · mō pái

Taking a tile from the wall. A normal draw and a replacement draw have different places in the procedure.

Table actions

#### [Discard](https://tileleague.com/library/mahjong-terms.md#term-discard)

**Cantonese · Jyutping**

打牌 · daa2 paai2

**Mandarin · Pinyin**

打牌 · dǎ pái

Putting a tile from your hand face up into the discard area. An opponent may claim it if their hand and the rules permit.

Table actions

#### [Dealer](https://tileleague.com/library/mahjong-terms.md#term-dealer)

**Cantonese · Jyutping**

莊家 · zong1 gaa1

**Mandarin · Pinyin**

莊家／庄家 · zhuāng jiā

The East player for the current hand. The dealer begins play with the first discard; dealer continuation is a separate rule.

Table actions

#### [Seat wind](https://tileleague.com/library/mahjong-terms.md#term-seat-wind)

**Cantonese · Jyutping**

門風 · mun4 fung1

**Mandarin · Pinyin**

門風／门风 · mén fēng

Your assigned East, South, West or North position for this hand. It is a game role, not the compass direction you face.

Table actions

#### [Round / prevailing wind](https://tileleague.com/library/mahjong-terms.md#term-round-wind)

**Cantonese · Jyutping**

圈風 · hyun1 fung1

**Mandarin · Pinyin**

圈風／圈风 · quān fēng

The wind assigned to the current round, shared by all players. It can differ from your own seat wind.

Table actions

#### [Wall](https://tileleague.com/library/mahjong-terms.md#term-wall)

**Cantonese · Jyutping**

牌牆 · paai2 coeng4

**Mandarin · Pinyin**

牌牆／牌墙 · pái qiáng

The stacked supply of tiles from which players draw. Rules determine where dealing starts and where replacement tiles come from.

Table actions

#### [Drawn hand](https://tileleague.com/library/mahjong-terms.md#term-drawn-hand)

**Cantonese · Jyutping**

流局 · lau4 guk6

**Mandarin · Pinyin**

流局 · liú jú

A hand ending without a winner, commonly when drawable tiles run out. This is different from drawing a tile.

Tiles and scoring

#### [Honours](https://tileleague.com/library/mahjong-terms.md#term-honours)

**Cantonese · Jyutping**

番子 · faan1 zi2

**Mandarin · Pinyin**

字牌 · zì pái

The four winds and three dragons. They have no numerical sequence, though matching copies can form pairs, triplets or kongs.

Tiles and scoring

#### [Flowers / seasons](https://tileleague.com/library/mahjong-terms.md#term-flowers)

**Cantonese · Jyutping**

花牌 · faa1 paai2

**Mandarin · Pinyin**

花牌 · huā pái

Bonus tiles set aside and replaced in many Chinese variants. In American mahjong, flowers can instead be part of a required winning pattern.

Table actions

#### [Flower replacement](https://tileleague.com/library/mahjong-terms.md#term-flower-replacement)

**Cantonese · Jyutping**

補花 · bou2 faa1

**Mandarin · Pinyin**

補花／补花 · bǔ huā

Setting aside a drawn flower or season and taking its replacement under the table’s rules. The flower is not a normal discard.

Tiles and scoring

#### [Fan / faan](https://tileleague.com/library/mahjong-terms.md#term-fan)

**Cantonese · Jyutping**

番 · faan1

**Mandarin · Pinyin**

番 · fān

A scoring unit used in several mahjong traditions. Its value and conversion to payments depend on the system; one fan is not a universal number of points.

Tiles and scoring

#### [Tai](https://tileleague.com/library/mahjong-terms.md#term-tai)

**Cantonese · Jyutping**

台 · toi4

**Mandarin · Pinyin**

台 · tái

A scoring unit common in Taiwanese mahjong. Do not convert it directly into Hong Kong fan, Japanese han or this app’s versioned LRC points.

[See every tile family](https://tileleague.com/library/mahjong-tiles.md)

### Three distinctions that prevent mistakes.

A shape is not a call. A sequence can stay hidden in your hand; calling chow exposes a sequence made with a discard. Likewise, three tiles you drew yourself are a triplet, but you did not call pong to obtain them. This difference can affect concealed-hand awards.

Ready is not riichi. Ready describes a hand’s distance from completion. Riichi is a particular Japanese declaration with conditions and consequences. Nor does “closed” automatically mean “self-drawn”: one describes the hand’s exposure, the other the source of the winning tile.

A word is not a scoring contract. Fan, tai and Japanese han belong to different systems. Even when two tables use the same word, they may count different patterns or settle payments differently. Agree on the rules before attaching a number to a name.

[Compare the main mahjong styles](https://tileleague.com/library/types-of-mahjong.md)

### Follow the words through one turn.

Imagine that you hold 4–5 Bamboo. The player before you discards 6 Bamboo. In a game allowing chow, you may announce the call, expose 4–5–6, and discard a tile. You have completed one sequence, not an entire winning hand. You do not take an ordinary wall draw after that chow.

Later, suppose every required set and the pair are complete except for one tile. You are ready. If you draw the tile and the hand meets all winning conditions, that is self-draw. If an opponent discards it and you may legally win on it, you win on a discard and that opponent deals in.

### Learn the calls by using them.

Keep this glossary open beside your first lesson. Start by recognizing the tile you draw, the tile you discard and the set you are trying to complete. The vocabulary becomes easier when each word has a move attached to it.

[Create an account and try the Taiwanese lesson](https://tileleague.com/play/sign-in?returnTo=%2Fplay%2Flesson)

### Language and rules references

Definitions separate shared vocabulary from variant-specific scoring. The sources below document terminology and pronunciation; their complete tournament rules are not the rules of every table. Chinese equivalents are practical table language, and regional alternatives remain in use.

- [CityU Students’ Union tournament rules: calls, sets and winning declarations (2023)](https://files.cityusu.hk/files/events/mj2023_rules.pdf)
- [Barticle’s Japanese Mahjong Guide, hosted by USPML: closed hands, readiness and riichi](https://uspml.com/documents/japanese_mahjong_guide_v103.pdf)
- [Ministry of Education dictionary: 自摸](https://dict.revised.moe.edu.tw/dictView.jsp?ID=137634&la=1&powerMode=0)
- [Ministry of Education dictionary: 開槓](https://dict.revised.moe.edu.tw/dictView.jsp?ID=76662&la=1&powerMode=0)
- [Jyutping scheme and tone guide](https://lshk.org/jyutping-scheme/)

[Editorial process and corrections](https://tileleague.com/about.md#editorial-process)

### Keep reading

- [Mahjong tiles explained: a visual guide](https://tileleague.com/library/mahjong-tiles.md): Learn to play · 8 min read
- [Types of mahjong compared](https://tileleague.com/library/types-of-mahjong.md): Learn to play · 8 min read