Complete Mahjong Yaku List: All 43 Yaku for Beginners (2026)
Complete riichi mahjong yaku list — all 43 yaku with han values, examples, and beginner tips. From tanyao to yakuman, every scoring pattern in one reference.
Riichi mahjong has 43 yaku — the scoring patterns required to validate a winning hand. They range from 1-han basics like riichi, tanyao, and yakuhai (which account for ~70% of beginner wins) to 13-han yakuman like kokushi musou and suu ankou. Without at least one yaku, your hand cannot win, even if it’s structurally complete with four sets and a pair.
Below is the full list organized by category, with han values, example hands, and links to detailed reference pages for every yaku. Start with the 5 essential beginner yaku at the top, then work through the categories as you progress. Use the table of contents to jump to any section.
Table of Contents
- What is yaku in mahjong? — definitions and why every winning hand needs one
- The 5 essential beginner yaku — start here if you’re new
- All 43 yaku by category — full reference list with han values
- Sequence yaku (5 yaku)
- Triplet yaku (10 yaku)
- Terminal & honor yaku (5 yaku)
- Suit yaku (2 yaku)
- Lucky / situational yaku (4 yaku)
- Special condition yaku (5 yaku)
- Yakuman (max value) (12 yakuman)
- Common beginner mistakes
- How many han does each yaku score?
- Frequently asked questions
What Is Yaku in Mahjong?
Yaku (役) are scoring patterns in riichi mahjong — specific tile combinations or game conditions that make your hand valid for winning. Without at least one yaku, you cannot declare ron (winning off someone’s discard) or tsumo (winning by self-draw), even if your hand is structurally complete.
Think of yaku as the “proof” that your hand is worth scoring. You might have four sets and a pair (the basic structure of a winning mahjong hand), but unless those tiles form at least one recognized pattern from this list, the hand has no value and cannot win.
The han value of your yaku determines your score. Each yaku is worth 1 to 13 han, and multiple yaku stack together. A 1-han hand might score 1,000 points, while a 4-han hand could be worth 8,000 points or more. The highest tier — yakuman — is worth a flat 32,000 points (or 48,000 if you’re the dealer).
If you’re brand new, start with our companion guide What Is Yaku in Mahjong? A Beginner’s Guide before diving into the full list below.
The 5 Essential Beginner Yaku
These five yaku will account for roughly 70% of your winning hands as a beginner. Master these before worrying about anything else.
Riichi — 1 han, closed only
When your hand is one tile away from winning (tenpai), declare “riichi,” rotate your next discard sideways, and place a 1,000-point stick on the table as a deposit. Riichi is your bread-and-butter yaku because any complete closed hand becomes valid the moment you declare it.
Example:
Tanyao — 1 han, open or closed
Tanyao means “all simples” — your entire hand contains only 2-8 tiles with no terminals (1s or 9s) and no honor tiles (winds or dragons).
Example:
Yakuhai — 1 han per set, open or closed
Yakuhai means “value tiles” — a triplet (pon) or quad (kan) of dragons or your seat/round wind. Each value triplet counts as 1 han, and they stack. Specific reference pages: haku (white dragon), hatsu (green dragon), chun (red dragon), seat wind, round wind.
Example:
Pinfu — 1 han, closed only
Pinfu means “no points” — a fully closed hand with four sequences (no triplets) and a two-sided wait on a non-value pair. Pinfu is extremely common and teaches you to build efficient sequences.
Example:
Iipeikou — 1 han, closed only
Iipeikou means “pure double sequence” — two identical sequences in the same suit (like 234m and 234m). This often happens naturally when you’re building toward pinfu.
Example:
For deeper coverage of value tiles, see Yakuhai Complete Guide: Value Tiles in Riichi Mahjong.
All 43 Yaku by Category
This is the complete list of every yaku in standard riichi mahjong rules, grouped by category. Click any name to read the detailed reference page with example hands and strategy notes.
Sequence Yaku
Yaku built around sequences (chi sets like 234, 567).
| Yaku | Japanese | Han (closed) | Han (open) | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pinfu | 平和 | 1 | — closed only | Beginner |
| Iipeikou | 一盃口 | 1 | — closed only | Intermediate |
| Sanshoku Doujun | 三色同順 | 2 | 1 | Intermediate |
| Ittsu | 一気通貫 | 2 | 1 | Intermediate |
| Ryanpeikou | 二盃口 | 3 | — closed only | Advanced |
Triplet Yaku
Yaku built around triplets (pon sets) and dragon/wind sets.
| Yaku | Japanese | Han (closed) | Han (open) | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yakuhai: Haku | 役牌 白 | 1 | 1 | Beginner |
| Yakuhai: Hatsu | 役牌 發 | 1 | 1 | Beginner |
| Yakuhai: Chun | 役牌 中 | 1 | 1 | Beginner |
| Yakuhai: Seat Wind | 自風牌 | 1 | 1 | Beginner |
| Yakuhai: Round Wind | 場風牌 | 1 | 1 | Beginner |
| Toitoi | 対々和 | 2 | 2 | Intermediate |
| San Ankou | 三暗刻 | 2 | 2 | Advanced |
| Sanshoku Doukou | 三色同刻 | 2 | 2 | Advanced |
| San Kantsu | 三槓子 | 2 | 2 | Advanced |
| Shousangen | 小三元 | 2 | 2 | Advanced |
Terminal and Honor Yaku
Yaku built around terminals (1s and 9s) and/or honor tiles (winds and dragons).
| Yaku | Japanese | Han (closed) | Han (open) | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tanyao | 断幺九 | 1 | 1 | Beginner |
| Chanta | 混全帯幺九 | 2 | 1 | Intermediate |
| Junchan | 純全帯幺九 | 3 | 2 | Advanced |
| Honroutou | 混老頭 | 2 | 2 | Advanced |
Suit Yaku
Yaku based on concentrating tiles into one suit.
| Yaku | Japanese | Han (closed) | Han (open) | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honitsu | 混一色 | 3 | 2 | Intermediate |
| Chinitsu | 清一色 | 6 | 5 | Advanced |
Lucky and Situational Yaku
Yaku that trigger from rare game conditions, not specific tile patterns.
| Yaku | Japanese | Han | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haitei | 海底摸月 | 1 | Beginner |
| Houtei | 河底撈魚 | 1 | Beginner |
| Rinshan Kaihou | 嶺上開花 | 1 | Intermediate |
| Chankan | 搶槓 | 1 | Intermediate |
Special Condition Yaku
Yaku that depend on how the hand was completed, not its tile pattern.
| Yaku | Japanese | Han | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riichi | 立直 | 1 | Beginner |
| Ippatsu | 一発 | 1 | Beginner |
| Menzen Tsumo | 門前清自摸和 | 1 | Beginner |
| Chiitoitsu | 七対子 | 2 | Intermediate |
| Daburu Riichi | 両立直 | 2 | Advanced |
| Nagashi Mangan | 流し満貫 | mangan | Advanced |
Yakuman: The 13-Han Grand Prizes
Yakuman are the highest-value hands in mahjong, worth a flat 32,000 points (48,000 for the dealer). They are extremely rare — most players see fewer than one per hundred sessions — but they’re the moments you remember forever.
| Yakuman | Japanese | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Kokushi Musou | 国士無双 | Advanced |
| Suu Ankou | 四暗刻 | Advanced |
| Daisangen | 大三元 | Advanced |
| Shousuushii | 小四喜 | Advanced |
| Daisuushii | 大四喜 | Advanced |
| Tsuuiisou | 字一色 | Advanced |
| Chinroutou | 清老頭 | Advanced |
| Ryuuiisou | 緑一色 | Advanced |
| Chuuren Poutou | 九蓮宝燈 | Advanced |
| Suu Kantsu | 四槓子 | Advanced |
| Tenhou | 天和 | Advanced |
| Chiihou | 地和 | Advanced |
How to Build Yaku Into Your Strategy
Don’t just memorize yaku — learn to recognize opportunities during play.
Start with flexibility. In your first few turns, keep tiles that work toward multiple yaku. Middle tiles (3-7) work for tanyao. Pairs of dragons can become yakuhai.
Declare riichi when stuck. If you’re in tenpai but don’t have a yaku, riichi gives you one instantly. This is especially useful when you have a pinfu-shaped hand but the wait isn’t correct.
Call strategically. Every call you make closes off pinfu, iipeikou, and riichi. Only call when you’re building toward toitoi, yakuhai, or a flush (honitsu/chinitsu).
Count your han before pushing. A 1-han hand isn’t worth much risk. If you only have tanyao, consider whether declaring riichi to add another han is worth the 1,000-point deposit.
For a deeper strategy walkthrough, see Best Mahjong Strategy Tips.
Common Beginner Mistakes With Yaku
Mistake 1: Winning without a yaku. You cannot win with just four sets and a pair. Always verify you have at least one yaku before declaring ron or tsumo. Read What Happens When You Have No Yaku? for a deeper look at this trap.
Mistake 2: Breaking pinfu requirements. Pinfu requires a two-sided wait. If you’re waiting on a single tile (tanki), edge (penchan), or closed wait (kanchan), you don’t have pinfu — even if everything else looks right.
Mistake 3: Forgetting seat/round winds change. Your yakuhai options change every hand. East wind is always valuable in the East round, but South wind only matters if you’re the South player or it’s the South round.
Mistake 4: Calling tiles unnecessarily. New players often call every possible tile. Calling closes off riichi, pinfu, and iipeikou. Only call when you have a clear path to a different yaku.
Yaku Quick Reference Table
The most-used yaku at a glance:
| Yaku | Han | Open / Closed | Key Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riichi | 1 | Closed only | Declare when in tenpai |
| Tanyao | 1 | Both* | Only 2-8 tiles |
| Yakuhai | 1 each | Both | Pon of dragons / seat wind / round wind |
| Pinfu | 1 | Closed only | Four sequences, two-sided wait |
| Iipeikou | 1 | Closed only | Two identical sequences |
| Toitoi | 2 | Both | Four triplets |
| Honitsu | 3 / 2 | Both | One suit + honors |
| Chinitsu | 6 / 5 | Both | One suit only |
| Sanshoku | 2 / 1 | Both | Same sequence in all suits |
*Tanyao open rules vary by location — some allow it, some don’t.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does yaku mean in mahjong?
Yaku (役) literally means “role” or “function” in Japanese, but in mahjong it refers to a recognized scoring pattern. Every winning hand in riichi mahjong must contain at least one yaku from the official list — without one, your hand cannot win even if it’s structurally complete (four sets and a pair).
How many yaku are there in riichi mahjong?
Standard riichi mahjong has 43 yaku, including 12 yakuman. Some rulesets (notably some online platforms and house rules) recognize additional optional yaku like renhou or sanrenkou, but the 43 listed on this page are the universally accepted set used in most competitive play.
What is the easiest yaku for beginners?
The easiest yaku to force are riichi (just declare it when you’re in tenpai with a closed hand) and yakuhai (call pon on a dragon or your seat/round wind). Tanyao is also easy because most starting hands are already heavy in 2-8 tiles.
What happens if I win without a yaku?
You cannot. Even if your hand has four sets and a pair, the win is invalid without at least one yaku. This is called “yaku-nashi” (no yaku) and the most common beginner mistake. The fix: declare riichi when you reach tenpai, which gives you a guaranteed yaku. See No Yaku in Mahjong: Yaku-Nashi Explained for a full walkthrough.
What are the highest-value yaku?
Outside of yakuman (worth 32,000 points each), the highest standard yaku is chinitsu at 6 han closed (5 open). Chinitsu, honitsu, and combined yaku stacks like riichi + ippatsu + tsumo + dora are how you build toward mangan and haneman scores.
Does open or closed matter for yaku?
Yes. Many yaku are closed only — you lose them entirely if you call chi, pon, or kan. These include riichi, pinfu, iipeikou, and ryanpeikou. Other yaku drop one han when called open (sanshoku, ittsu, chanta, junchan, honitsu, chinitsu). A few yaku — yakuhai, tanyao, toitoi — score the same value whether open or closed.
Where can I download a printable yaku reference?
We publish a free 2-page printable yaku cheat sheet covering all 43 yaku with han values and frequency ratings. No email required.
Your Next Steps
Start by focusing exclusively on riichi, tanyao, and yakuhai in your first 10-20 games. These three will give you enough yaku options to win consistently while you learn the game flow.
Once you’re comfortable, add pinfu and iipeikou to your recognition toolkit. These closed-hand yaku will naturally appear as you build sequences.
Bookmark this page — it links to detailed reference content for every yaku in riichi mahjong. Whenever you spot a yaku in your hand and aren’t sure of the rules, click through to that yaku’s individual page for full requirements, example hands, and strategy tips.
The key is playing hands, not just reading about them. Each game gives you 4-8 chances to practice yaku recognition. Jump in, make mistakes, and learn what works.
Continue learning:
- Free yaku cheat sheet (PDF)
- What is yaku? Beginner’s guide
- Mahjong scoring guide: points and payments
- Best mahjong strategy tips
- Browse all 43 yaku reference pages
Ready to move from apps to the real table? Recognizing yaku is far faster with tiles in your hand — see our guide to the best mahjong sets for picks at every budget.