American Mahjong Tiles: Complete Guide to All 166 Tiles
An American Mahjong set has 166 tiles total. Most of them are number tiles in three suits, but the set also includes honor tiles, flower tiles, and the wild Jokers that are unique to American Mahjong. Knowing the tiles fluently is one of the things that separates players who can read the NMJL card at a glance from players who have to puzzle through every notation.
Here's the full set, broken down by category.
The 108 suit tiles
The suit tiles make up the bulk of the set: three suits, each numbered 1 through 9, with four copies of each number. That's 36 tiles per suit, 108 total.
Bams (Bamboos). The Bam tiles show bamboo sticks arranged in patterns. Number 1 Bam is famously different from the rest: it shows a bird (often a peacock or sparrow) instead of a single bamboo stick. Numbers 2 through 9 show that many bamboo sticks. Bams are usually rendered in green on the NMJL card.
Craks (Characters). The Crak tiles display Chinese numerals. Every Crak tile carries the character 萬 (wan) at the bottom, which translates to "10,000", historically the highest currency denomination in classical China. Above the wan character is the specific numeral for the tile's value. Craks are rendered in red on the card.
Dots (Circles). The Dot tiles show circular patterns representing ancient Chinese coins, which had a square hole through the center. Number 1 Dot is a single large coin; higher numbers show that many circles arranged in patterns. Dots are blue on the NMJL card.
The 28 honor tiles
Honor tiles aren't numbered. They include the Winds and the Dragons.
Winds (16 tiles). Four each of East (東), South (南), West (西), and North (北). Winds correspond to compass directions and to the four seasons. The dealer position rotates through the Winds in tournament play, and East has historical significance as the most prestigious wind.
Dragons (12 tiles). Four each of three dragons:
- Red Dragon (中), the character means "center" or "middle." Symbolizes good fortune and success.
- Green Dragon (發), the character means "prosperity" or "wealth coming in." Same character used in formal greetings.
- White Dragon, a tile with a stylized blue border and otherwise blank face. American players call it the "Soap" because the face looks like a bar of soap. The Soap plays an unusual role in American Mahjong: in Year hands, it stands in for the digit 0. In all other contexts, it's a regular dragon.
The 8 Flower tiles
Flowers are bonus tiles that exist in some mahjong variants. American Mahjong includes eight Flower tiles, typically split as four flowers (plum, orchid, chrysanthemum, bamboo) and four seasons (spring, summer, autumn, winter). Many American sets simplify this to "Flower 1 through 4" twice, with decorative imagery rather than the traditional Chinese symbolism.
Flowers don't fit into standard groups (pungs, kongs, etc.) and are used only in specific NMJL hands that include them. When you draw a Flower during play, you usually expose it immediately and draw a replacement tile.
The 8 Joker tiles
Jokers are unique to American Mahjong. They're bright red wild cards that can substitute for any tile in groups of three or more. The full Joker rules guide covers the mechanics, but the headline rule is simple: Jokers cannot be used in pairs.
Identifying tiles fast
New players struggle with tile recognition for the first few games. The shortcuts that help:
Bams are mostly green and look like sticks. Once you can spot 1 Bam (the bird) and 5 Bam (a distinctive cluster), the rest are easier.
Craks all share the same wan character at the bottom, which is the easiest tell. Look for it first, then look at the numeral above.
Dots are circles and look like circles. The hardest part is counting them on higher-numbered tiles where the circles overlap or are arranged in patterns.
Honor tiles look distinct from suit tiles. Winds have specific characters (East/South/West/North); Dragons have the three specific characters described above. The Soap is unmistakable.
Flowers and Jokers look obviously different from everything else.
How tiles map to NMJL card notation
The NMJL card uses notation that maps to the tiles:
- Numbers (1-9) refer to suit tiles, with the suit indicated by color (green = Bam, red = Crak, blue = Dot)
- F = Flower
- D = Dragon (specific dragon indicated by R for Red or G for Green; White is shown as 0)
- W = Wind, with N/E/S/W for the specific wind
- 0 = White Dragon (Soap), used in Year hands as a substitute for the digit 0
Our card-reading guide walks through how to interpret the full notation.
Caring for your tiles
Modern American Mahjong sets are usually plastic or composite. Care is minimal: wipe with a damp cloth, avoid extreme temperatures, store in the case to prevent loss. Older bone-and-bamboo or ivory sets need more attention, keep them out of direct sunlight, avoid moisture, and never put them in the dishwasher (yes, this happens).