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
1
A tile-based game, originally from China, usually played by four people with tiles divided into several suits.
"Ho Sau-Mei, one of Hong Kong’s last mahjong tile carvers, is getting old."
— Kathleen Magramo, The game is almost over for one of Hong Kong’s last mahjong carvers (2025)
"While most of the country has spent the weekend counting hongbaos and mahjong tiles, those guys have been out there salvaging hongbaos and half of Thomson Road."
— Neil Humphreys, The Thief (2003)
"They meet every Friday for a few rounds of mahjong."
2
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 notesIn 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.
