American vs Chinese Mahjong Sets: What Is the Difference?

Mahjong is played all over the world, and the sets are not interchangeable. If you are learning American mahjong, the most important thing is to buy an American set. Here is how they differ.

The quick comparison

	American mahjong	Chinese mahjong
Tiles	152	144
Jokers	8	None
Flowers	8, all count the same	4 flowers and 4 seasons
Corner numbers and letters	Usually printed on suits and winds	Often not
Racks with pushers	Standard	Less common
Winning hands	From the yearly card of hands	Fixed scoring patterns

Jokers are the deal-breaker

American mahjong uses eight jokers, and many winning hands depend on them. Chinese sets have no jokers, so a Chinese set is not a substitute. When you shop, look for "American" and "jokers" in the description and check the tile count: 152, or 160 to 166 with extras. Our guide to how many tiles are in an American set has the full breakdown.

Index marks make sets easier to read

American sets usually print a small number on every suit tile and N, E, W or S on the winds. That makes them much easier for new players who do not read the Chinese characters.

Racks, pushers and the wall

In American mahjong each player builds a wall of 19 tiles, two high, and uses a rack with a pusher to hold the hand and move the wall. That is why American players buy racks and pushers with their set.

How the game is played

American mahjong starts with the Charleston, a series of tile passes between players, and winning hands come from a card that the National Mah Jongg League publishes every year. Chinese mahjong has no Charleston and uses fixed patterns and scoring. Other styles exist too, such as Japanese riichi mahjong, which uses 136 tiles.

Can you play other styles with an American set?

Usually yes: set the jokers aside and you have the tiles for most other styles. The one gap is the flowers, which in an American set are not always numbered for each seat as Chinese flowers and seasons are. The reverse does not work, because a Chinese set has no jokers.

Frequently asked questions

Are American tiles bigger than Chinese tiles?

Not necessarily. Tile size depends on the maker, not the style, so check the size in each listing.

Do I need racks for Chinese mahjong?

They are optional in most Chinese styles. In American mahjong they are standard because of the wall and the pusher.

What do the letters and numbers on the tiles mean?

They are index marks: the number of a suit tile, or N, E, W and S on the winds, so you can read every tile without knowing the characters.

Which set should you buy?

If your group plays from the yearly card, buy an American set with 152 or more tiles including jokers, plus four racks and a mat. Browse our American mahjong sets, from colorful acrylic sets to compact travel sets.