Mahjong dragon tiles: red, green and white (soap)
There are three dragons, and each one is paired with a suit. Knowing which goes with which is one of the first things to learn.
By Jerry Chen. Checked and updated November 1, 2026
- Also called
- Red, green and white dragons; the white dragon is called soap
- How many
- 12: four each of red, green and white
The three dragons
Red dragon: shows 中 (zhong), often translated as "center". It matches the craks.
Green dragon: shows 發 (fa), often read as "prosper" or "fortune". It matches the bams.
White dragon: usually blank or framed in blue. American players call it soap. It matches the dots.
Matching and opposite dragons
When a hand shows a dragon in the same color as a suit, use the matching dragon: red with craks, green with bams, soap with dots.
When the card says "opp. dragons", or prints the dragons in a different color from the suit beside them, use dragons that do not match that suit.
Soap as zero
In year hands such as 2026, the soap stands in for the zero. A zero is suitless, so it can go with any suit in those hands.
Soap cannot be used as a zero in consecutive runs: 0-1-2 is not a run.
Blanks and white dragons
If your set has both blanks and white dragons, the blanks are spares. If it has blanks but no white dragons, four of the blanks are your white dragons.
Common mistakes
- Pairing the soap with craks or bams in a hand that calls for matching dragons.
- Using soap as zero in a run.
- Using a joker for a single dragon. Jokers only go in groups of three or more.
Rule questions
- What does "opposite dragons" mean on the card?
- Can you use the white dragon as zero in a consecutive run?
- Can you use a joker in NEWS or a year like 2026?
Common questions
Why is the white dragon called soap?
Soap is the long-standing American nickname for the white dragon. It matches the dots and doubles as zero in year hands.
Which dragon goes with which suit?
Red with craks, green with bams, white (soap) with dots.
What does opposite dragons mean?
Dragons that do not match the suit they appear with, such as a green dragon next to craks.
How many dragons are in a mahjong set?
Twelve: four red, four green and four white.
Other tiles
Sources: Tom Sloper, American mah-jongg FAQ 19 (opposite dragons, zeros, blanks); Wikipedia, American mahjong. Rules follow the National Mah Jongg League; house rules vary.