Mahjong Together

Mahjong Together is based on Chinese-style play and is closest to Hong Kong–style mahjong. We believe it offers a strong foundation for learning other styles, including American mahjong.

Our leveled learning system makes it easy for beginners and kids to start by building  simple “chicken hands” (no-points, mixed-set hands) with fewer tiles before gradually adding more tiles and advanced rules. 

We offer an add-on Joker tile set to adapt Mahjong Together for American-style play. 

Yes! Mahjong is played in many ways across cultures and families. Mahjong Together gives you one simple way to play—but feel free to use your own rules or traditions. Play the way that feels right for your group. As we like to say, "House rules apply!" 

Mahjong Together is adaptable, with a complete 144-tile set that works for many styles of mahjong. Our leveled play system teaches the core fundamentals of Chinese-style play, making it easier to transition into different styles over time. For:

• Taiwanese-style: Follow our leveled play system. When you’re ready for full gameplay, simply add one extra set to form a winning hand of 1 pair + 5 sets (instead of 4).
  
• American-style: You’ll need the Joker add-on set. We don’t include instructions for American Mahjong or the NMJL card, but there are many excellent online resources for learning this style.
  
• Other Asian styles (Singaporean, Malaysian, Riichi, Vietnamese, etc.): Your set is compatible for simplified mahjong play, and our leveled play gives you the fundamentals you need. Some of these styles use special tiles that we do not currently include. If you’d love to see us offer them in the future, please let us know at support@boandmei.com — your input directly informs our product development!

Inspired by children’s wooden blocks, we chose sustainably-sourced solid wood (Schima superba) for its warmth, familiar feel, and lightweight durability. Wood suits the hands-on ways children play, from stacking and building to accidental drops and the occasional toss. (If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of a child’s game-time frustration, you’ll appreciate the lighter weight!)

In our testing, adults loved the wooden tiles just as much as kids. The tiles preserve the satisfying feel and click-clack of mahjong while being lighter to handle and easier to carry as a set—making them a joy to play with across generations.

Our leveled play system works with 2 or more players. 

Four players gives you the classic mahjong experience, but playing with 2 or 3 is great for learning, practicing, or enjoying a faster-paced round. You can even team up to bring more players to the table!

Yes — in a way that’s just right for their age. At 3 years old, kids typically know their colors, numbers, and shapes, so we start there. With Mahjong Together, little ones focus on:

• Getting familiar with the tile designs
• Practicing matching and sorting
• Building simple sets with guidance

There’s no pressure to “play the full game” yet — instead, we gently introduce the building blocks of mahjong through playful exploration.

And honestly? Younger kids also just love that the tiles are wooden blocks they can stack, line up, knock down, and build little worlds with. That’s part of the joy — they’re learning without even realizing it.

Starting early also helps children feel connected to a cultural tradition from the very beginning — not as something taught later, but as something naturally woven into play, joy, and family time.

The goal at this age: comfort, curiosity, and connection. The strategy: keep it joyful and hands-on. They'll be confident mahjong players before long.

Mahjong Together tiles are the same size as standard Chinese mahjong tiles (34 x 26 x 20mm; 1.33 x 1 x 0.8in) and designed to stand on their own. 

If you prefer to play with racks, they should fit most standard mahjong racks. We recommend a minimum 20" length to ensure a comfortable fit.