麻將 / 麻将
májiàng
Mahjong in Chinese is 麻將 / 麻将 (májiàng). Wiktionary also lists 麻雀 (máquè).
Meaning: game for four players (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 麻將 / 麻将 | májiàng | |
| 麻雀 | máquè | rare |
Mahjong is a game for four players. To say you are playing the game, use the verb 打 (dǎ), which literally means 'to hit' or 'to strike', resulting in the phrase 打麻將.
Is it said differently in some regions?
麻將 / 麻将 is most commonly used in Mainland China and Taiwan. In Hong Kong and Macau, the term 麻雀 is used. Some Cantonese-speaking areas outside of Hong Kong also use 麻雀 to refer to the game.
How do you pronounce it?
májiàng
Did you know?
Examples in context
- 我覺得湯姆知道怎麼玩麻雀。Tom knows how to play mahjong, I think.This sentence uses 麻雀 to express that someone knows how to play the game.Tatoeba #5574894 by verdastelo9604, translation #3734210 by CK
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mahjong” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 麻將, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
