Mahjong tiles explained: names, meanings and pictures
An American mahjong set has seven kinds of tile: three numbered suits, winds, dragons and flowers, plus the jokers that make the American game different. Here is what each one looks like and what it is called.
By Jerry Chen. Checked and updated November 1, 2026
A standard game uses 152 tiles. Most sets come with 160 or 166, adding spare jokers and blanks (and, in 166-tile sets, 8 extra flowers). If you are counting a set you already own, see how many tiles are in a mahjong set or use the set checker.
The tiles on this page are our own simplified drawings. Real sets vary a lot in style, but the symbols are the same.
Dots
Also called circles or balls. The number of circles is the tile's value. There are 36 dots: four each of 1 to 9.
Bams
Short for bamboo; also called sticks. The number of sticks is the value. The 1 bam is usually drawn as a bird rather than one stick, which confuses many beginners. There are 36 bams.
Craks
Short for characters. Each crak shows a Chinese numeral on top and 萬 (wan, ten thousand) underneath. If you do not read Chinese, rely on the small Western numeral in the corner. There are 36 craks.
| Numeral | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Character | 一 | 二 | 三 | 四 | 五 | 六 | 七 | 八 | 九 |
Winds
North, East, West and South, four of each, 16 in all. Most American sets print a large N, E, W or S in the corner. The card often abbreviates them as NEWS.
Dragons
Three dragons, four of each, 12 in all. In American mahjong each dragon belongs to a suit, and the card relies on this pairing:
| Tile | Name | Goes with | Symbol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red dragon | Craks | 中 (zhong), often read as "center" | |
| Green dragon | Bams | 發 (fa), often read as "prosper" | |
| White dragon, or soap | Dots | Blank or a framed border. Also used as a zero. |
Flowers
A standard American game uses 8 flowers. Sets often include more, plus season tiles. In American mahjong every flower and season counts as the same tile, so a hand that needs "FFFF" can use any four. Flowers can be passed in the Charleston and can be called for an exposure.
Jokers
A standard game uses 8 jokers; some sets include spares. Jokers stand in for any tile in a group of three or more, but never in a pair or as a single tile. They are what make a set "American". Full joker rules.
Blanks
Plain spare tiles, included in many sets. They are not used in the standard game. They replace a lost tile, and with joker stickers they can become extra jokers. Some groups play a house rule that uses blanks in the game; agree on it before you start.
All the tiles at a glance
| Kind | Different tiles | Copies of each | In a standard game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dots, bams, craks | 9 per suit | 4 | 108 |
| Winds | 4 | 4 | 16 |
| Dragons | 3 | 4 | 12 |
| Flowers | All count as one | 8 | 8 |
| Jokers | 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Total | 152 |
Want a version to keep by the table? Print the one-page cheat sheet.
Common questions
What are the three suits in mahjong called?
Dots (also called circles or balls), bams (short for bamboo, also called sticks) and craks (short for characters). Each suit runs from 1 to 9, with four copies of every tile.
Why is the 1 bam a bird?
Many sets draw the 1 bam as a bird, often a sparrow or peacock, instead of a single bamboo stick. It is still just the 1 bam and plays exactly like any other 1 bam.
What does the Chinese character on the crak tiles mean?
The bottom character, 萬 (wan), means ten thousand. The top character is the number. That is why craks are sometimes called "characters" or "ten-thousands".
What is a soap in mahjong?
Soap is the American nickname for the white dragon. It is often blank or framed in blue. In American mahjong it can also stand for a zero in year hands like 2026.
Do mahjong tiles have numbers on them?
Most sets sold for American mahjong print small Western numerals or letters in the corner of each tile. Many Chinese sets do not, which makes them harder for beginners to read.
Are all flower tiles the same?
In American mahjong, yes. Any flower or season tile counts as a flower, whatever picture is on it. In Chinese mahjong each flower is linked to a seat.
What are the numbers on mahjong tiles?
The small numerals in the corners show the tile's value (1 to 9) or a letter for winds. American sets add them so you do not need to read Chinese.
What does the red dragon mean?
The red dragon shows 中 (zhong), often translated as "center". In American mahjong it goes with the craks.
What does the green dragon mean?
The green dragon shows 發 (fa), often read as "prosper" or "fortune". It goes with the bams.
How many flower tiles are there?
A standard American game uses 8. Some sets include 16; you play with 8.
Sources: Wikipedia: American mahjong; The Mahjong Line, American Mahjong 101.