Mahjong Scoring Explained
Faan and tai, the minimum to win, limit hands and who pays, compared across Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysian and Taiwanese rules.
How Mahjong scoring works
Every region scores Mahjong the same basic way. A winning hand is worth points for the patterns it contains, such as all runs, all triplets or a hand in one suit. Hong Kong and Malaysia call those points faan (番); Singapore and Taiwan call them tai (台).
A hand usually needs a minimum number of points before you can win with it, and the total decides how much the other players pay. The patterns are similar everywhere, but their values, the minimum and the payments differ by region.
Casual scoring at our tables
Our tables start on casual scoring. Any complete hand wins and scores one point, with no minimum and no points table to learn. It suits new players and mixed groups.
When you set up a private table you can switch to the region's own scoring instead. The table then counts faan or tai for every win and applies that region's minimum and payments.
The four scoring systems side by side
| Rule | Hong Kong | Singapore | Malaysia | Taiwan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit | Faan | Tai | Fan | Tai |
| Minimum to win | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Limit | 13 faan (pays as 10) | 5 tai | 10 fan | None |
| Self-drawn win | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| All runs | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| All triplets | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Half flush | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Full flush | 7 | 4 | 3 | 8 |
| Seven pairs | 4 | Not allowed | 1 | Not allowed |
| Dragon, seat or round wind pung | 1 each | 1 each | 1 each | 1 each |
Each region also scores flowers and the big honour hands its own way. The regional pages have the full tables: Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan.
Patterns every region scores
Pungs of dragons, of your own seat wind and of the round's wind each add a point everywhere (in Taiwan, a big honour hand replaces them). Bonus tiles add points too: a flower or season that matches your seat scores, and so does a full set of four.
Limit hands
The rarest hands score the most a region allows. In Hong Kong they are worth 13 faan, the cap on any hand, and pay the same as 10 faan, where payments stop growing. Singapore and Malaysia score them at the table limit (5 tai and 10 fan). Taiwan has no limit and values each big hand on its own, from 4 tai for small three dragons to 16 for big four winds or all honours.
Who pays when someone wins
| Region | Self-drawn win | Win on a discard |
|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong | All three opponents pay | Only the discarder pays |
| Singapore | All three opponents pay double | The discarder pays double, the others pay single |
| Malaysia | All three opponents pay | Only the discarder pays, double |
| Taiwan | All three opponents pay | Only the discarder pays |
In Hong Kong the payment doubles at 3, 5, 7 and 10 faan, and doubles again when the dealer wins or pays. Singapore doubles for each tai. Taiwanese payments grow by one unit per tai.
Scoring questions
What is the difference between faan and tai?
Both are points for patterns in a winning hand. Hong Kong and Malaysian players say faan or fan; Singapore and Taiwanese players say tai. The values differ by region.
Do I need to know scoring to play?
No. Our tables start on casual scoring, where any complete hand wins. Switch on regional scoring when your group is ready.
Why can't I win with my complete hand?
With regional scoring on, a hand also has to reach the minimum, such as 3 faan in Hong Kong. A plain hand of runs and triplets may not get there.
Do flowers count towards the minimum?
Yes. In regional scoring, flowers and seasons that match your seat, and full sets of four, add points like any other pattern.
Play with casual or regional scoring
Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysian or Taiwanese rules with your friends. AI fills any empty seat. No download, no sign-up.
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