hand structure riichi
Tenpai
聴牌
(テンパイ)
Definition
Ready to win - your hand is one tile away from completing a winning hand. Required to declare riichi.
Related Terms
Riichi
立直
Declaring ready - a 1-han yaku and core mechanic of Japanese mahjong. Declared when in tenpai with a closed hand by paying 1,000 points and placing a stick. Locks your hand but enables additional yaku.
Shanten
向聴
The number of tiles away from tenpai. 0-shanten = tenpai, 1-shanten = iishanten, etc.
Iishanten
一向聴
One tile away from tenpai. Your hand needs one more useful tile to reach tenpai (ready to win). A key stage in hand development.