Fu

Fu (符)

Fu (符) are minipoints in mahjong that form one half of the scoring calculation. Combined with han (hand value), fu determines the final payment amount for a winning hand.

Detailed Explanation

Fu represents the structural complexity and difficulty of a hand’s composition. While han measures the hand’s pattern value, fu measures its technical construction. Every winning hand has a base value of 20 fu, with additional points awarded based on specific hand elements.

Scoring Components

Fu is calculated by adding points for various hand features:

Melds (Meld Types)

• Closed pung (刻子): 4 fu
• Open pung: 2 fu
• Closed kong (暗槓): 16 fu
• Open kong (明槓): 8 fu
• Chow: 0 fu

Pair Bonuses

• Dragon pair (honor pair): 2 fu
• Seat wind pair: 2 fu
• Prevailing wind pair: 2 fu
• Other pairs: 0 fu

Wait Pattern

• Single wait (tanki): 2 fu
• Edge wait (penchan): 2 fu
• Closed wait (kanchan): 2 fu
• Open wait (ryanmen): 0 fu

Win Method

• Self-drawn win (tsumo): 2 fu
• Robbing a kong (chankan): 2 fu
• Dead wall win (haitei): 2 fu
• Win on opponent’s kong (chankan): Special scoring
• Regular discard win: 0 fu

Base Fu

All hands begin with 20 fu as a baseline. This represents the minimum structural value. From this foundation, additional fu are added based on the hand’s composition.

Fu and Scoring Tiers

Fu works in conjunction with han to determine payment amounts. The combination creates distinct scoring tiers:

• Mangan (満貫): 2,000 points base, independent of fu
• Haneman (跳満): 3,000 points base
• Baiman (倍満): 4,000 points base
• Sanbaiman (三倍満): 6,000 points base
• Yakuman (役満): 8,000 points base

For hands below mangan, fu becomes critical. A hand with 3 han and 30 fu scores differently than 3 han and 40 fu.

Rounding and Calculation

Fu is always rounded up to the nearest 10 in standard riichi mahjong. If your calculation yields 34 fu, it becomes 40 fu. This rounding often creates strategic considerations for players deciding whether to declare riichi or pursue specific melds.

Usage Example

A player wins with a hand containing:

• One closed pung of characters (4 fu)
• One open pung of bamboo (2 fu)
• Two chows (0 fu)
• A dragon pair (2 fu)
• Single wait win (2 fu)
• Self-drawn win (2 fu)
• Base value (20 fu)

Total: 4 + 2 + 0 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 20 = 32 fu (rounds to 40 fu)

If this hand also has 2 han, the 2 han 40 fu combination determines the payment tier and final point value.

Related Terms

Han — The pattern value of a hand, measured in levels. Combined with fu to calculate final score.

Mangan — A fixed 2,000-point hand value that supersedes fu calculations, reached at 5 han or certain han-fu combinations.

Pinfu (平和) — A hand pattern worth 1 han that specifically avoids fu bonuses, scoring only 20 fu base value.

Meld — Pung, kong, or chow combinations that contribute fu values to hand composition.

Agari (上がり) — A winning hand. The fu calculation applies only after a valid agari is declared.

Understanding fu is essential for intermediate mahjong strategy, as it influences decisions about which melds to pursue and when to declare riichi.