South China Morning Post
Advertisement
Advertisement
Chinese culture
Get more with myNEWS
A personalised news feed of stories that matter to you
Learn more
Constance Wu as Rachel in a scene from Crazy Rich Asians in which, playing opposite Eleanor (Michelle Yeoh), mother of the man she loves, she picks up a tile that would win her the game but discards it, knowing it will allow Eleanor to win. How you play mahjong shows the kind of person you are. Photo: Warner Bros.
LifestyleEntertainment

How you play mahjong reveals your personality, as Constance Wu’s Rachel showed in Crazy Rich Asians. So here’s a 3-point code of mahjong etiquette

  • How you behave in a sport or game says a lot about you as a person, and mahjong is no exception. Players are expected to be gracious and play fair
  • Maintain a reputation as a decent player, and person, by not peeking at your opponents’ tiles, gloating about a win or invoking superstitions for your advantage
Chinese culture
Audrey Chan
Audrey Chan
Why you can trust SCMP

Keeping a level head during a heated mahjong round can take just as much mastery as winning the game itself.

Mahjong is no different to any other game when it comes to expecting a certain level of sportsmanship from players. There is a term – “paai ban” in Cantonese and “pai pin” in Mandarin – which means “tile character” that describes a player’s conduct. Reactions to unexpected twists can be a reflection of their true temperament.

Since money is often gambled in mahjong, the personal stakes can be high during gameplay. The same can be said for tensions between players, and poor paai ban can turn a friendly game into a hostile one.
The art of staying collected and composed during gameplay can be tricky, and your “tile character” can make or break your reputation as a player and as a person. Some Chinese parents even use the game to screen their potential son or daughter in-law – just like in the classic Lunar New Year movie Fat Choi Spirit.

Here are some codes of mahjong etiquette that every player should be aware of.

1. Play fair

This means no peeking!

Some players also take mahjong superstitions deeply to heart. Respecting your opponents means not engaging in petty behaviour like patting them on the back.

If you lose, consider washing your hands before shaking others’, as it is believed your bad luck can rub off on them. This speaks to your integrity as a player on and off the mahjong court.

Play fair during a mahjong game – by not peeking at others’ tiles. Photo: Shutterstock

2. Accept victory or defeat with poise

There will be winners and losers in every mahjong game. Whatever fate you meet, the correct thing to do is to show appreciation for the time spent with your opponents.

It is proper practice to pay the player to whom you owe money, and it can be done with grace, too. There is always the next game in which to redeem yourself – or to win again.

Players who emerge victorious from a game should not gloat about their win if they are indeed of good paai ban.

Accept a defeat, or mark a victory, in mahjong with poise. Photo: Shutterstock

3. Respect your opponents

It goes without saying that you should respect your fellow players – a passive aggressive comment here and an accusatory remark there can cause major outbreak of frustration or trigger calls from players ready to throw in the towel.

With mahjong being as competitive as it is, it is worth considering how the game offers lessons in patience, stoicism and tact which apply to your life away from the mahjong table.

Having good “tile character” and treating your opponents with respect will allow them to respect you as a player in return, and your character as a whole.

As shown in a brilliant mahjong scene in the movie Crazy Rich Asians, sometimes the true winner, the character with real strength, is the one who loses graciously at the table.
Post