LESSON 2 OF 6 · 5 MIN READ
Meet the tiles: suits, winds, dragons & jokers
A gentle introduction to the families in an American mahjong set.
In this lesson +
Start with the three numbered suits
Dots, bams (short for bamboo), and cracks (characters) each run from 1 through 9. A 2 dot and a 2 bam share a number, but they are different tiles. Look for both the number and the suit when naming a tile. Artwork varies between sets, so use the printed number or symbol as your anchor.
From left: 1 bam, East wind, white dragon (soap), and a flower. Designs vary between physical sets.
Explore the visual tile library ↗Winds and dragons have names, not numbers
The winds are East, South, West, and North. Dragons are red, green, and white; the white dragon may look like an empty frame and is often called “soap.” These tiles are distinct from the numbered suits. When a dragon accompanies a suited grouping on the card, red matches cracks, green matches bams, and white matches dots; a white dragon can represent zero only when the current card says so. If you encounter decorative designs, ask the set owner to point out each family before play.
Flowers and jokers
A standard NMJL-style set uses eight flowers and eight jokers, although sets may include extras or blanks. Flowers may have different artwork even when they serve the same role in a hand. Jokers are special substitutes with restrictions; they are not a universal replacement for any missing tile. You will learn those restrictions in a later lesson.
Build recognition before speed
Sort a few tiles into families. Name one tile aloud, then find another from the same family. Next, separate numbered tiles by value. If a tile feels unfamiliar, pause and ask. This small habit makes everything else easier. Our flashcards help you practice names and definitions, while a physical set helps you recognize the actual artwork.
A QUICK CONFIDENCE CHECK
Are a 3 dot and a 3 bam the same tile?
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