# Mahjong etiquette

Good mahjong manners come down to a few habits. Name every discard clearly. Keep a steady pace. Don't comment on other players' hands. Handle mistakes kindly. These make the game fair and pleasant for everyone.

Groups vary, so when you join a new table, it is always fine to ask how they play.

## Name every discard

When you discard, place the tile face up in the center and say its name out loud. Everyone needs to know what was thrown, because they may want to call it.

Tiles: 3 Bam | 8 Crak | Soap

Say it clearly, and name it correctly. If you name the wrong tile, correct yourself right away. Put the tile down where others can see it, not hidden near your rack.

## Keep a steady pace

- Wait until the player before you has discarded and named their tile before you draw.
- Think while others take their turns, so your own turn is quick.
- Leave a short moment after each discard so others can call it, then draw.
- If you need extra time on a hard choice, that's fine. Try not to do it every turn.

New players are slower, and that's expected. A good table is patient with them.

## Table talk

Chatting between hands is part of the fun. During a hand, keep game talk to a minimum.

- Don't say which tiles you need or what hand you are making.
- Don't comment on other players' hands or discards, such as "She must be going for winds."
- Don't tell another player what to discard, unless you are all playing an open hand to teach, with everyone's tiles showing.
- Avoid groans or reactions to discards. They give away information.

## Hands to yourself

Don't touch another player's rack or tiles. You can swap a real tile for a joker in someone's exposed set. Do it on your turn, say what you are doing, and place your tile in their set yourself. Don't reach into the wall out of turn.

## Calling politely

Call clearly and promptly, before the next player puts their new tile on their rack. Say "Call" and take the tile, then expose your set. If you call and change your mind before exposing anything, say so right away. Groups differ on how they handle this, so follow your table's house rules. The full calling rules are in [calling tiles](https://learnmahjongquick.com/guides/calling-tiles).

## Mistakes and dead hands

Everyone makes mistakes: the wrong number of tiles, an exposure that doesn't fit the card, or a mistaken call of mahjong. When a hand can no longer win, many groups call it a dead hand. The player stops playing until the hand is over, and still pays if someone wins.

Point out mistakes gently and plainly. "I think you have 14 tiles" is enough. With new players, many groups let small errors go and help fix them, especially in the first few games. What matters is that everyone agrees on the rule before it comes up.

## Winning and paying

When you declare mahjong, lay all 14 tiles face up and give everyone a moment to check them against the card. Don't mix the tiles until everyone has seen the hand.

Pay promptly and without fuss when someone else wins. Congratulate the winner. The [scoring guide](https://learnmahjongquick.com/guides/mahjong-scoring) explains who pays what.

## Making new players welcome

- Ask before you give advice. Some people want help, some want to figure it out.
- For a first game, offer to play an open hand, with everyone's tiles showing.
- Explain house rules before the game starts, not in the middle of a hand.
- Keep the stakes small or skip them until everyone is comfortable.

If you are hosting new players, our guide to [hosting a mahjong night](https://learnmahjongquick.com/guides/host-a-mahjong-night) has more ideas.

## Questions

**Do you have to say your discard out loud in mahjong?**

Yes. Name every discard as you place it, so the other players know what was thrown and can call it.

**Is it rude to talk during mahjong?**

Chatting between hands is normal. During a hand, avoid talk about tiles, hands or discards, because it gives away information.

**What is a dead hand in mahjong?**

A hand that can no longer win, for example after a wrong exposure or with the wrong number of tiles. The player stops playing until the hand ends, and still pays the winner.

**Should I help a new player at the table?**

Ask first. Many new players welcome tips, especially in an open practice hand, but some prefer to work it out themselves.

Web version: https://learnmahjongquick.com/guides/mahjong-etiquette