Mahjong crak tiles (characters): reading the Chinese numbers
Craks are the suit beginners find hardest, because the number is a Chinese character. The corner numerals on American sets help, but the characters are easy to learn.
By Jerry Chen. Checked and updated November 1, 2026
- Also called
- Craks, characters, cracks
- How many
- 36: four each of 1 to 9
What the characters mean
Each crak shows two characters. The bottom one, 萬 (wan), means ten thousand. The top one is the number.
The numbers are 一 1, 二 2, 三 3, 四 4, 五 5, 六 6, 七 7, 八 8, 九 9. One, two and three are just one, two and three strokes.
How they are used
Craks are one of the three suits and can fill any color on the card.
The matching dragon for craks is the red dragon, 中.
Common mistakes
- Misreading craks on sets without corner numbers. Learn the characters 一 to 九 first; they are simpler than they look.
- Assuming red on the card means craks.
Rule questions
- What do the colors on the mahjong card mean?
- What does "opposite dragons" mean on the card?
- What happens if someone misnames a discard?
Common questions
What does crak mean in mahjong?
Short for character, one of the three suits. The tiles show Chinese numerals with 萬, meaning ten thousand.
Which dragon goes with craks?
The red dragon.
How do I read the crak tiles?
Look at the top character: 一 1, 二 2, 三 3, 四 4, 五 5, 六 6, 七 7, 八 8, 九 9. Most American sets also print the number in the corner.
Other tiles
Sources: Tom Sloper, American mah-jongg FAQ 19 (crak numerals, card colors); Wikipedia, American mahjong. Rules follow the National Mah Jongg League; house rules vary.