noun

mahjong

mah-JONG

Mahjong (noun) means a tile-based game, originally from China, usually played by four people with tiles divided into several suits. Example: “They meet every Friday for a few rounds of mahjong.”

noun

A tile-based game, originally from China, usually played by four people with tiles divided into several suits.

"They meet every Friday for a few rounds of mahjong."

A single-player tile-matching game based on the same tile set, where matching pairs are cleared from the board.

"She unwinds after work by playing a quick game of mahjong on her phone."

How to use mahjong

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA classic Chinese tile game, either played competitively with four people or as a solo matching puzzle.

Common pairings

play mahjong a game of mahjong mahjong tiles

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They meet every Friday for a few rounds of _____.

Etymology

From Mandarin majiang, itself derived from a word meaning "sparrow" with a regional diminutive ending.

Synonyms

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Mah-Jongg

Frequently asked questions

What does “mahjong” mean?

The word “mahjong” means a tile-based game, originally from China, usually played by four people with tiles divided into several suits. In plain terms, a classic Chinese tile game, either played competitively with four people or as a solo matching puzzle.

How do you pronounce “mahjong”?

“Mahjong” is pronounced mah-JONG (/mɑˈd͡ʒɔŋ/ in IPA).

How do you use “mahjong” in a sentence?

Here is “mahjong” used in a sentence: “They meet every Friday for a few rounds of mahjong.”

What part of speech is “mahjong”?

“Mahjong” is a noun.

How many meanings does “mahjong” have?

“Mahjong” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a tile-based game, originally from China, usually played by four people with tiles divided into several suits.