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How you play mahjong reveals your personality, as Constance Wu’s Rachel showed in Crazy Rich Asians. So here’s a 3-point code of mahjong etiquette
- How you behave in a sport or game says a lot about you as a person, and mahjong is no exception. Players are expected to be gracious and play fair
- Maintain a reputation as a decent player, and person, by not peeking at your opponents’ tiles, gloating about a win or invoking superstitions for your advantage
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Keeping a level head during a heated mahjong round can take just as much mastery as winning the game itself.
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Mahjong is no different to any other game when it comes to expecting a certain level of sportsmanship from players. There is a term – “paai ban” in Cantonese and “pai pin” in Mandarin – which means “tile character” that describes a player’s conduct. Reactions to unexpected twists can be a reflection of their true temperament.
Since money is often gambled in mahjong, the personal stakes can be high during gameplay. The same can be said for tensions between players, and poor paai ban can turn a friendly game into a hostile one.
The art of staying collected and composed during gameplay can be tricky, and your “tile character” can make or break your reputation as a player and as a person. Some Chinese parents even use the game to screen their potential son or daughter in-law – just like in the classic Lunar New Year movie Fat Choi Spirit.
Here are some codes of mahjong etiquette that every player should be aware of.
1. Play fair
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