American Mahjong Glossary: Terms Every Player Should Know

By: BamChive

American Mahjong has its own rich vocabulary, from tile suits and honor categories to gameplay mechanics and set construction. This glossary is for new players learning the game, seasoned players brushing up on terminology, and gift buyers looking to understand what makes a quality set. Here you'll find clear definitions for the terms you'll encounter when shopping for, setting up, and playing American Mahjong.

160-tile American Mahjong set

An American Mahjong set containing exactly 160 tiles. This count includes all three numbered suits (Bams, Craks, and Dots), Winds, Dragons, Flowers, Jokers, and a small number of Blanks. Some sets on the market include 166 tiles with additional jokers and blanks, but 160 is a widely used configuration, including in BamChive's collections.

20-inch Mahjong rack

A tile rack measuring 20 inches in length, designed to comfortably hold larger or extra-large American Mahjong tiles. Standard racks are often shorter, so a 20-inch option gives players more room to arrange their hand without crowding. BamChive offers this size as part of its coordinated acrylic accessory line.

American Mahjong

A distinctly American version of the classic Chinese tile game, governed by the National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) or the American Mah-Jongg Association (AMJA). It uses 152 standard tiles plus 8 Jokers, follows an annual hand card of legal winning combinations, and features the Charleston, a pre-game tile-passing ritual not found in other variants. It is the core game that every BamChive set is built for.

American Mahjong hand card

An annual scorecard that lists every legal winning hand for the current year of play. Published by the NMJL or AMJA, the card changes each year, keeping the game fresh and strategic. Players need the current card alongside their tile set to play, making it an essential companion to any American Mahjong set.

American Mahjong tile set

A complete collection of American Mahjong tiles sold as a single unit, ready for play. A full set includes suited tiles (Bams, Craks, Dots), honor tiles (Winds and Dragons), Flowers, Jokers, and Blanks. BamChive's tile sets are crafted from layered acrylic with original artwork on every face.

BamChive

A design-forward American Mahjong brand known for original artwork, layered acrylic tile construction, and coordinated accessories. Each BamChive collection tells a cultural story through its color palette and tile illustrations. The brand serves modern players, collectors, and gift buyers who value both craft and playability.

Bams

Short for Bamboo, Bams are one of the three numbered suits in American Mahjong, running from 1 through 9. Traditionally depicted with bamboo stick imagery, each tile appears four times in a standard set. Bams are used alongside Craks and Dots to build the suited portions of winning hands on the annual card.

Blanks

Extra tiles included in an American Mahjong set that carry no suit or symbol. They serve as replacements if a tile is lost or damaged, keeping the set complete and playable. A typical set includes several Blanks as part of its total tile count.

Charleston

A mandatory tile-passing ritual at the start of every American Mahjong game. Players pass three tiles to the right, then three across, then three to the left, repeating for a second round. The Charleston is unique to American Mahjong and adds a layer of early strategy as players shape their hands before the first draw.

Concealed hand

A winning hand marked with a "C" on the NMJL card that must be completed entirely from tiles drawn from the wall. Players working toward a concealed hand cannot call discards (except for the final winning tile). These hands carry higher point values, rewarding patience and precise tile reading.

Craks

Short for Characters, Craks are one of the three numbered suits in American Mahjong, numbered 1 through 9. Each Crak tile appears four times in a set. On the annual hand card, Craks combine with Bams and Dots in various patterns to form winning combinations.

Custom American Mahjong set

A Mahjong set featuring original, exclusive artwork and a distinctive color palette, typically produced in limited quantities. BamChive's custom sets draw on cultural stories and design themes to create collections that feel personal and collectible. Each custom set is a complete, playable 160-tile American Mahjong set.

Dots

One of the three numbered suits in American Mahjong, depicted as circles and numbered 1 through 9. Like Bams and Craks, each Dot tile appears four times in a standard set. Dots are sometimes the easiest suit for new players to recognize because of their simple circular symbols.

Dragons

A category of honor tiles in American Mahjong consisting of three types: Red Dragon, Green Dragon, and White Dragon (also called Soap). Each Dragon tile appears four times in a set. Dragons feature prominently in many winning hands on the annual NMJL card.

Flowers

Neutral bonus tiles numbered 1 through 8 that appear in specific winning hands on the NMJL card. Flowers are not part of any suit and function differently from honor tiles. Every American Mahjong set, including BamChive's, includes a full set of eight Flower tiles.

Joker exchange

A rule unique to American Mahjong that allows a player, on their turn, to swap a natural tile from their hand for an exposed Joker on another player's rack. The natural tile must match the tile the Joker is representing. Joker exchanges add a tactical dimension, as players weigh the value of retrieving a wild tile against revealing information about their hand.

Jokers

Wild tiles exclusive to American Mahjong that can substitute for any tile in a pung, kong, quint, or sextet. A standard set includes eight Jokers. They cannot be used in pairs, and their strategic deployment is one of the defining skills of American Mahjong play.

Kong

A grouping of four identical tiles, one of the standard sets players build toward in American Mahjong. A kong can be formed by drawing from the wall or by calling another player's discard. Kongs appear frequently in winning hand patterns on the NMJL card.

Layered acrylic Mahjong tiles

A tile construction method in which multiple layers of acrylic are bonded together, creating depth, color contrast, and durability. This approach allows for rich visual design on each tile face while maintaining a satisfying weight and feel during play. BamChive uses layered acrylic construction across its tile collections.

Mahjong game night

A social gathering centered around playing Mahjong, typically with four players per table. Game nights can be casual get-togethers or recurring events with a dedicated group. BamChive's sets and accessories are designed to make hosting a game night feel polished and inviting.

Mahjong gift set

A curated product bundle that pairs an American Mahjong tile set with coordinated accessories such as racks, pushers, or a playing mat. Gift sets are designed for easy giving, especially for recipients new to the game. BamChive's gift sets emphasize cohesive design and unboxing appeal.

Mahjong mat

A padded or fabric playing surface placed on a table during Mahjong games. Mats protect tiles from scratches, reduce noise when tiles are shuffled, and define the playing area. BamChive offers mats designed to coordinate with its tile sets and accessories.

Mahjong pusher

A sliding bar that sits in front of a tile rack, used to push tiles forward into an upright position for easy viewing. Pushers save players from manually standing each tile and keep the rack tidy throughout the game. BamChive's pushers feature magnetic acrylic construction that pairs with their rack designs.

Mahjong rack

A long, angled tray that holds a player's tiles upright and facing them during play. Each game requires four racks, one per player. BamChive's racks are made from acrylic with magnetic pushers, designed to complement the aesthetic of their tile sets.

NMJL card

The annual hand card published by the National Mah Jongg League, listing every legal winning combination for the current year. The card is essential for play; without it, players cannot identify valid hands. A new card is released each spring, and players of all skill levels rely on it throughout the year.

Pung

A set of three identical tiles, one of the fundamental groupings in American Mahjong. Pungs can be built by drawing from the wall or by calling a discard from another player. Many winning hands on the NMJL card require one or more pungs.

Quint

A set of five identical tiles, a grouping that exists only in American Mahjong because it requires at least one Joker (since only four copies of any tile exist in a set). Quints appear in specific hands on the NMJL card and represent some of the game's most challenging combinations to complete.

Readable tile faces

A design principle prioritizing clear, legible suit symbols and numbers on each tile face. Readable faces matter because players need to quickly identify tiles during fast-paced play. BamChive emphasizes this in its tile design, balancing artistic expression with at-a-glance clarity.