Majiang
/ˈmɑː.dʒjɑːŋ/noun
A Chinese tile-based game commonly known in English as mahjong.
Did you know?Majiang is written 麻将 in modern Chinese, but earlier forms were associated with 麻雀—“sparrow”—possibly because the clicking tiles resembled birds chirping, though the exact transition remains debated.
Etymological Timeline
Before the 19th century
Chinese
麻雀
“Literally “sparrow”; an older name sometimes linked to the tile game, though the connection is historically disputed.”
19th Century
Wu Chinese
麻將
“A regional form of the game’s name, associated with the pronunciation that later spread beyond its original dialect area.”
Late 19th Century
Cantonese
麻雀 / maa4 zoek3
““Sparrow”; a name historically associated with the game in southern Chinese speech.”
Late 19th–Early 20th Century
Cantonese English
mah-jong
“An English rendering of a Cantonese pronunciation of 麻將 or related regional forms.”
20th Century
English
mahjong
“The standard English name for the Chinese tile game.”
Modern Mandarin
Mandarin Chinese
麻将 / májiàng
“The contemporary Mandarin pronunciation and written form of the game’s name.”