Given the multitude of Japanese terminology in the game, many terms are used in association with each other. For example, a separate set of terms are dedicated to the yaku, as names for each pattern.
Game rounds
Japanese
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Kanji
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English
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Explanation
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- Kyoku
- Ton iikyoku
- Ton nikyoku
- Etc.
- Oorasu
Melds
Japanese
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Kanji
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English
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Explanation
Mentsu
「」 Meld
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Generic term for tile melds.
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Anjun
「」 Sequence
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Closed sequence.
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Ankan
「」 Cloed kan.
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Four identical tiles in the hand.
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Ankou
「」 Closed triplet
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Three identical tiles in the hand.
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Chakan
「」 Added kan
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A minkou upgraded to a kantsu.
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Daiminkan
「」 Open kan
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Open kan from a discarded tile.
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Kantsu
「」 Four-of-a-kind
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Four identical tiles.
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Minkou
「」 Open triplet
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Open koutsu from a discarded tile.
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Shuntsu
「」 Closed sequence
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Sequential meld in the hand.
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Rule specific
Japanese
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Kanji
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English
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Explanation
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Scoring
Japanese
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Kanji
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English
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Explanation
Aka dora
「」 Red dora tiles
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Tiles marked red to indicate as dora, regardless of the dora indicator. Typically used for the 5's of the three suits.
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Baiman
「」
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A hand of value 8, 9, or 10 han.
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Dora
「」 Bonus tiles
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A specific tile type, that is assigned 1 han per tile as indicated by the dora indicator(s).
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Fu
「」 Minipoints
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A set of points associated to tile composition: melds, wait patterns, and winning conditions.
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Han
「」
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A value counter associated with values assigned to yaku and dora (if in possession).
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Haneman
「」
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A hand of value 6 or 7 han.
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Honba
「」
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A counter indicating the number of consecutive hands played without a winning hand by any player.
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Mangan
「」
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A point cap applied to the regular scoring scale. A hand value of 3 han 70 fu, 4 han 40 fu, or 5 han.
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Nomi
「」
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A term to indicate a hand won with just one particular yaku, without combination with another or any dora.
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Sanbaiman
「」
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A hand value of 11 or 12 han.
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Yaku
「」 Pattern
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Specific patterns that validates hands as winnable.
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Yakuman
「」
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The limit point value for a hand. A set of patterns whose value is set at this limit.
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Seating
Japanese
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Kanji
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English
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Explanation
Kamicha
「」 Left player
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Player seated to the left.
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Oya
「」 Dealer
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Dealer seat, who is designated as East.
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Shimocha
「」 Right player
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Player seated to the right.
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Toimen
「」 Player across
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Player seated across.
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Strategic and tactical terms
Japanese
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Kanji
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English
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Explanation
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- Damaten
- Suji
- Betaori
- Kabe
- Etc
Tiles
Manzu
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Ii wan |
Ryan wan |
San wan |
Suu wan |
Uu wan |
Ro wan |
Chii wan |
Pa wan |
Chuu man
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Souzu
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Ii sou |
Ryan sou |
San sou |
Suu sou |
Uu sou |
Ro sou |
Chii sou |
Pa sou |
Chuu man
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Pinzu
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Ii pin |
Ryan pin |
San pin |
Suu pin |
Uu pin |
Ro pin |
Chii pin |
Pa pin |
Chuu man
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Jihai
Kazehai
Sangenpai
Tile categories
- Terminals
- Honors (Jihai)
- Simples
Tile calls
Japanese
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Kanji
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English
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Explanation
Kan
「」
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A call declaring possesion of four identical tiles.
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Pon
「」
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A call making a claim to upgrade a pair of identical tiles to an open set of three identical tiles (minkou).
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Ron
「」
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A call to indicate a winning hand by discard
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Tsumo
「」
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A call to indicate a winning hand by self-draw
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Wait patterns
Japanese
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Kanji
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English
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Explanation
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- Tenpai
- Machi
- Ryanmen
- Shanpon
- Tanki
- Ryanmenten
- Etc.
Yaku
Main article:
List of yaku
Every yaku is referred by a specific name. While they each have English equivalence, it is encouraged to learn the yaku names by their Japanese name.
Yaku
Japanese
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Kanji
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Han value
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Explanation
Menzen tsumo
「門前清自摸和」
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This yaku may apply to any closed hand. Any player who draws a winning tile with a closed hand is awarded this yaku.
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Riichi
「立直」
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This is a special yaku applied to closed tenpai hands, which requires the player to make a declaration and "wager".
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Ippatsu
「一発」
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This is applied when the player calling riichi wins within 4 tile draws/discards. In addition, the cycle must not be interrupted by tile calls.
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Pinfu
「平和」
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Typically known as "all sequences", this is a hand that does not gain fu based on composition, other than that of a closed ron.
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Iipeikou
「一盃口」
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This hand includes two identical sequences.
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Haitei raoyue
「海底撈月」
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The hand is completed with the last tile on the wall.
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Houtei raoyui
「河底撈魚」
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The hand is completed with the very last discarded tile.
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Rinshan kaihou
「嶺上開花」
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This yaku is awarded upon winning with a tile from the dead wall.
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Chankan
「搶槓」
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The winning tile for a hand is called on another player's Kan. Essentially, the tile needed to complete a Kan is stolen to complete a winning hand.
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Tanyao
「断幺九」
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A hand composed of only inside (numbers 2-8) tiles
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Yakuhai
「役牌」
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A hand with at least one group of dragon tiles, seat wind, or round wind tiles. This hand can be valued at 1 han for each group.
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Double riichi
「ダブルリーチ」
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Riichi is declared with a dealt hand before the first discard.
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Chanta
「全帯幺九」
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All melds contain at least 1 terminals or honor.
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Sanshoku
「三色同順」
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Three sequences have the same number across the three different suits.
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Ittsu
「一通貫」
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This hand has a complete sequence of 1 through 9 of a single suit. As a note, the sequence of 1-9 are actually three groups of sequences numbered 123, 456, and 789.
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Toitoi
「対々」
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The entire hand is composed of triplets.
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Sanankou
「三暗刻」
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The hand includes three sets of triplets that have been formed without calling any tiles. The fourth set can be an open triplet or sequence.
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Sanshoku doukou
「三色同刻」
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The hand includes three groups of triplets with the same number.
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Sankantsu
「三槓子」
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Three kans are called for this hand.
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Chiitoitsu
「七対子」
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This hand is composed of seven pairs. It is one of two exceptions to the standard 4 melds and a pair pattern.
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Honroutou
「混老頭」
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The hand is composed of nothing but all terminals and honors. † This hand may be considered as 4 han, because it is impossible to score this hand without either chii toitsu or toi toi.
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Shousangen
「小三元」
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The hand contains two sets of 3 dragon tiles and a pair of the third dragon tiles. † This hand may be considered as 4 han, because it is impossible to score this hand without two sets of yakuhai, from the two sets of dragons.
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Honitsu
「混一色」
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This is a single suit hand mixed with some honor tiles.
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Junchan
「純全帯么」
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All sets contain at least one terminal.
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Ryanpeikou
「二盃口」
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This hand has two sets of "iipeikou". This hand does not combine with chii toitsu, even though the hand can be interpreted as one.
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Chinitsu
「清一色」
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This hand is composed entirely of tiles from only one of the three suits. It is the only yaku set at 6 han, where the number drops to 5 han when opened.
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Nagashi mangan
「流し満貫」
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All the discards are terminals and/or honors. In addition, none of these discards were called by other players.
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Yakuman
This is a specific set of "yaku", known as yakuman.
Japanese
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Kanji
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Han value
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Explanation
Kazoe yakuman
「数え役満」
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This is a special class of yakuman, where a hand is composed of 13+ han based on the combination of above regular yaku and/or dora.
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Kokushi musou
「国士無双 国士無双13面待ち」
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This hand has one of each of the 13 different terminal and honor tiles plus one extra terminal or honour tile. Some rules may allow double yakuman for a 13-wait set.
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Suuankou
「四暗刻 四暗刻単騎」
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This hand is composed of four sets of closed triplets. When this hand has a shanpon pattern and the win is via ron, then it would not be counted as suu ankou.
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Daisangen
「大三元」
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This has possesses three groups of all the dragons.
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Shousuushi
「小四喜」
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This hand has three groups of the wind tiles plus a pair of the fourth kind.
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Daisuushi
「大四喜」
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This hand has four groups of all four wind tiles.
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Tsuuiisou
「字一色」
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Every group of tiles are composed of honor tiles.
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Chinroutou
「清老頭」
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Every group of tiles are composed of terminal tiles.
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Ryuuiisou
「緑一色」
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A hand composed entirely of green tiles: 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 Sou and/or Hatsu.
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Chuuren poutou
「九連宝燈 純正九蓮宝燈」
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A hand consisting of the tiles 1112345678999 in the same suit plus any one extra tile of the same suit.
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Tenhou
「天和」
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The dealer hand is a winning hand even before discarding a tile.
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Chiihou
「地和」
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The non-dealer hand is a winning hand after the first draw.
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External links
Terminology list at Osamuko