All words ›Mahjong
CultureHow to pronounce “Mahjong”
麻将má jiàng
Literally: hemp sparrow.
❌ What English speakers usually say
“mah-ZHONG” with the s of “measure”
✅ What to say instead
mah-JYAHNG — a hard j, and the second syllable is jiang, not jong
The shape of the word
Tap any syllable to hear it. The curve above each one is the tone you are aiming for.
Syllable by syllable
| Syllable | Tone | Practise it |
|---|---|---|
| 麻 má | Second tone — rising | ma — open drill → |
| 将 jiàng | Fourth tone — sharp fall | jiang — open drill → |
Questions people ask
How do you pronounce Mahjong?
Mahjong is 麻将, má jiàng — mah-JYAHNG — a hard j, and the second syllable is jiang, not jong. Literally it means hemp sparrow.
What is the most common mistake with Mahjong?
“mah-ZHONG” with the s of “measure”
More words people mispronounce
Can you actually say it?
Reading a respelling is not the same as producing the tones. The free 2-minute check listens to you and shows which syllables land wrong.