noun
Common
Kong
kong
Kong (noun) means In mahjong, a set of four identical tiles, or the act of declaring such a set. Example: “She revealed her kong of red dragons and drew an extra tile.”
noun
1
In mahjong, a set of four identical tiles, or the act of declaring such a set.
"She revealed her kong of red dragons and drew an extra tile."
"Calling kong lets a player take another tile from the wall."
name
1
The giant fictional gorilla from the King Kong films.
"Kong climbed the skyscraper, swatting at the planes circling him."
"The remake reimagined Kong's battle with the dinosaurs."
How to use Kong
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a set of four matching tiles in mahjong, or the famous giant movie gorilla.
Common pairings
declare a kong
King Kong
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Word forms
- Plural
- kongs
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She revealed her _____ of red dragons and drew an extra tile.
Etymology
Borrowed from Mandarin 孔 (kǒng) or from Cantonese 江 (gong1).
Synonyms
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Rhymes for Kong
See all rhymes for Kong →Frequently asked questions
What does “Kong” mean?
The word “Kong” means in mahjong, a set of four identical tiles, or the act of declaring such a set. In plain terms, either a set of four matching tiles in mahjong, or the famous giant movie gorilla.
How do you pronounce “Kong”?
“Kong” is pronounced kong (/kɔŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “Kong” in a sentence?
Here is “Kong” used in a sentence: “She revealed her kong of red dragons and drew an extra tile.”
What part of speech is “Kong”?
Depending on how it is used, “Kong” can be a noun and a name.
Is “Kong” a common word?
“Kong” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Kong” have?
“Kong” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in mahjong, a set of four identical tiles, or the act of declaring such a set.
What is the difference between a kong and a pung in mahjong?
Both are matched sets of identical tiles, but a pung is three of a kind and a kong is four. Declaring a kong is essentially completing a pung with the fourth tile. Because a kong uses an extra tile, the player draws a replacement so their hand keeps the right count.
What are the types of kong?
There are generally three: a concealed kong, formed entirely from tiles in your own hand; an exposed or melded kong, made by claiming a discarded tile; and an added kong, where you upgrade an existing exposed pung by adding the fourth tile you later draw.
What happens when you declare a kong?
You reveal the four matching tiles, then draw a replacement tile from the wall to restore your hand to its normal size, since a kong holds one tile more than an ordinary set. Kongs can also earn bonus scoring. In some rules another player may rob a kong to complete a winning hand.
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