How to Win: Zimo and Hu

Learn the two ways to complete a winning hand in Chinese Mahjong.

How to Win: Zimo and Hu

Winning a hand of Chinese Mahjong is the payoff for all your tile drawing, discarding, and careful calls. The final step is always the same: turn a ready hand into a complete hand of fourteen tiles.

Ready to Win

A hand is ready, or tenpai, when it needs only one more tile to become a valid winning hand. A non-dealer holds thirteen tiles, so a ready hand is just one tile away from the four-meld, one-pair shape. The moment that last tile arrives, the player declares victory.

Zimo — Win by Self-Draw

The first way to win is zimo. This means you draw the winning tile yourself from the wall. Zimo is usually worth more than winning on a discard because it rewards patience and a bit of luck. When you zimo, you reveal your entire hand so the other players can confirm the win.

Hu — Win on a Discard

The second way to win is hu. This happens when another player discards the exact tile you need, and you claim it to complete your hand. Claiming a winning discard takes priority over other calls like chi or pong. Because the discard comes from another player's mistake or misfortune, hu often scores a little less than zimo, but it wins the hand all the same.

Reveal and Score

After declaring zimo or hu, the winner turns all fourteen tiles face-up. The players then check that the hand really contains four melds and one pair. Once confirmed, the hand is scored according to the local rules. Scoring can reward simple patterns or elaborate combinations, but the basic winning shape never changes.