Manzu
By Kenji Tanaka · Updated
Definition
Manzu is the character suit, each tile showing a Chinese numeral over the kanji 萬 (ten thousand). Nine ranks, four copies each, written with an m in notation (123m). Because the values are written rather than counted, manzu is usually the last suit beginners learn to read at a glance. Beyond that it plays identically to circles and bamboo, joining every suited yaku from tanyao to chinitsu.
Manzu
Manzu (萬子, まんず) is the character suit in riichi mahjong, named after the 萬 (wan) symbol meaning “ten thousand.” It contains nine numbered tiles, 1 through 9, with four copies of each, totaling 36 manzu tiles in a standard riichi set. Manzu tiles are visually distinct from pinzu and souzu because they show stacked Chinese characters rather than countable shapes.
Manzu in detail
Visual Identification
Each manzu tile shows two stacked Chinese characters: the numeral 一 through 九 on top and the 萬 symbol on the bottom. The 萬 character is identical on every manzu tile, so reading manzu means reading the numeral above it.
The numerals from 1 to 9 are 一, 二, 三, 四, 五, 六, 七, 八, 九, most are visually distinct, though new players sometimes confuse 6 (六) with 8 (八) because both have diagonal strokes.
Origin of the Name
The name “manzu” comes from the Chinese mahjong tradition where each suit represented a unit of historical Chinese currency. Manzu represents the “ten thousand” denomination, which was the largest single unit in the original currency system. The other two suits (pinzu and souzu) represent smaller units: coins and rope-bound stacks of coins.
Manzu in Riichi Strategy
Manzu functions identically to pinzu and souzu in riichi rules. The same yaku apply equally across all three suits, and there’s no inherent scoring difference. Where manzu differs is in player preference, many experienced players favor pinzu and souzu in flush-style hands (honitsu, chinitsu) because the visual processing is faster, but this is preference, not strategy.
The numerals 1 and 9 are terminal tiles, which matter for several yaku:
- Tanyao requires no terminals, so all manzu in a tanyao hand must be 2-8
- Junchan requires terminals in every set, manzu 1 or 9 helps qualify
- Honroutou requires only terminals and honors, only manzu 1s and 9s qualify
Manzu Notation
Mahjong notation uses single-letter shorthand: m for manzu. So “1m” means 1 of manzu, “5m” means 5 of manzu, and “123m” means 1-2-3 sequence in manzu.
A hand written as 123m 456p 789s 11z 55m reads as 1-2-3 manzu, 4-5-6 pinzu, 7-8-9 souzu, a pair of east winds, and a pair of 5 manzu (a 13-tile tenpai hand). This notation is universal in riichi training materials and online discussion.
Seeing Manzu in play
You’re dealt these tiles: 2m, 3m, 4m, 5m, 7p, 8p, 9p, 1s, 2s, 3s, white dragon, white dragon, white dragon. The 2m, 3m, 4m form a manzu sequence. With the 5m on its own, you have potential for an iipeikou hand if you can pair that 2-3-4 manzu with another 2-3-4 manzu sequence. The dragon triplet earns yakuhai (1 han). Your hand mixes all three suits but leans manzu-heavy, making it a candidate for a sequence-based hand rather than a flush.
Related Terms
Pinzu
筒子
Pinzu is the circle suit, its tiles showing counted dots said to descend from old coin designs. It runs 1 through 9 with four copies of each, written with a p in notation (567p). It is usually the first suit beginners read confidently, since the pips are simply counted. Beyond that it behaves like any numbered suit: a full member of tanyao, pinfu, sanshoku, honitsu, and chinitsu.
Souzu
索子
Souzu is the bamboo suit: sticks counted 2 through 9, with the 1 drawn as a bird, traditionally a peacock or sparrow. Written with an s in notation (234s). Its special claim is ryuuiisou, the all-green yakuman built from the green-printed bamboo tiles (2, 3, 4, 6, 8) plus the green dragon. Otherwise it is an ordinary suit with the full run of suited yaku.
Tiles
牌
A riichi set holds 136 tiles: 34 types, four copies each. Three suits of nine (manzu characters, pinzu circles, souzu bamboo), four winds, three dragons, and in most modern sets red fives as bonus dora. Suited tiles form sequences and triplets; honors form only triplets and pairs and carry the yakuhai value. Everything in the game starts with knowing the 34 types and tracking how many copies of each are gone. See the complete Tile Reference for each tile's appearance, meaning, and use.
Honitsu
混一色
A half flush: one suit plus honor tiles, worth 3 han closed and 2 han open. The classic intermediate hand: flexible enough to finish, big enough to matter, and famously easy for opponents to read once your discards show two suits being thrown away.
Chinitsu
清一色
A pure flush: one suit and nothing else, not even honors. At 6 han closed (5 open), chinitsu is the most valuable standard yaku, and its one-suited shapes are notorious for hiding complex, multi-sided waits that even strong players misread.