Glossary of Terms

This glossary defines key terms used throughout the whitepaper to aid understanding for readers new to Mahjong, blockchain or AI technologies.

A

AI Companion

A personalised artificial intelligence agent that learns from a player’s behaviour and can play matches on their behalf. Each AI companion is unique, trained specifically on one player’s strategy, risk tolerance, and decision-making patterns.

American Mahjong

A Mahjong variant popular in the United States featuring Joker tiles and special combinations. It differs significantly from Asian rule sets and is widely played with a dedicated following.

AML (Anti-Money Laundering)

Regulations and procedures designed to prevent the use of gaming platforms for money laundering activities. Mahjong Stars implements AML measures for marketplace and token transactions.

B

Bang Bang

A simplified Mahjong variant aimed at casual players, emphasising speed and accessibility. It features streamlined scoring and faster gameplay, making it ideal for beginners and social matches.

Blockchain

A decentralised, distributed ledger technology used to record transactions across multiple computers in a way that is secure, transparent and immutable. Mahjong Stars uses blockchain for asset ownership and governance.

Burn Mechanism

A tokenomic feature where tokens are permanently removed from circulation, typically to create deflationary pressure and maintain token value.

C

Cantonese Mahjong

A popular variant in Southern China and Hong Kong featuring flower tiles and a fan-based scoring system. Known for its fast-paced gameplay and social atmosphere.

Character Asset

A unique digital item representing a playable avatar within Mahjong Stars. Characters have attributes, support AI attachments, and can be leveled up through gameplay. They may exist as NFTs for players who choose blockchain integration.

Charm Asset

A collectible item that grants bonuses, cosmetics or passive income within Mahjong Stars. Charms can be earned through gameplay, purchased with soft currency, or obtained through raffles and events.

Chow

A Mahjong meld consisting of three consecutive tiles of the same suit (e.g., 3-4-5 of bamboo). Used to form part of a winning hand.

Clan

A group of players who band together for social and competitive purposes. Clans can compete in tournaments, share resources, and build collective strategies including clan AI training.

D

DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization)

An organization governed by smart contracts and token holder votes rather than traditional hierarchical management. Elements of DAO governance are incorporated into Mahjong Stars’ token structure.

DApp (Decentralized Application)

An application that runs on a blockchain network rather than centralized servers. Some Mahjong Stars features operate as DApps for transparency and security.

E

Escrow

A secure transaction mechanism where assets or currency are held by a trusted third party (or smart contract) until transaction conditions are met. Used in the Mahjong Stars marketplace for safe trading.

F

Freemium

A business model where basic services are free but advanced features require payment. Mahjong Stars uses freemium principles to ensure accessibility while offering premium options.

G

Governance Token

The blockchain-based currency used for voting on proposals, paying marketplace fees and accessing premium features within Mahjong Stars. Token holders participate in platform governance decisions.

H

Hard Currency

See Governance Token. The blockchain-based token used for governance, marketplace transactions, and premium features, as opposed to soft currency used for everyday gameplay.

Hybrid AI

A system that combines traditional programmed AI with machine learning models that learn from human behaviour. In Mahjong Stars, hybrid AI assists players and forms personalised AI companions that evolve over time.

K

Kong

A Mahjong meld consisting of four identical tiles. Declaring a kong allows the player to draw a replacement tile and can earn bonus points.

KYC (Know Your Customer)

Identity verification procedures required for certain platform features, particularly those involving financial transactions. Helps prevent fraud and ensures regulatory compliance.

L

Leaderboard

A ranking system that displays top players based on various metrics such as win rate, skill level, or tournament performance. Mahjong Stars features multiple leaderboards for different categories.

M

Meld

A combination of Mahjong tiles forming a valid set (Pung, Chow, or Kong). Melds contribute to forming a winning hand and are declared openly to other players.

Metaverse

A collective virtual shared space created by the convergence of physical and virtual reality. Future Mahjong Stars expansion plans may include metaverse integration.

MStars

A non-transferable reward currency used within Mahjong Stars to redeem for soft currency, rare assets or special event entries. Earned through gameplay achievements and community contributions.

N

NFT (Non-Fungible Token)

A unique digital asset recorded on a blockchain that represents ownership of a specific item or piece of content. Characters, charms and studios can be implemented as NFTs for players who opt into blockchain features.

P

P2P (Peer-to-Peer)

Direct interaction between users without intermediary platforms. Mahjong Stars facilitates P2P trading in its marketplace and direct player-vs-player gaming.

Pung

A set of three identical Mahjong tiles (e.g., three red dragons). Can be concealed in hand or exposed through claiming discards.

R

Ranked Match

A competitive game that affects a player’s global ranking and rating. Ranked matches use skill-based matchmaking and contribute to leaderboard positions.

Riichi

A popular Japanese Mahjong variant that emphasises strategy and concealed hands. Known for its riichi declaration mechanic where players bet on completing their hidden hand, plus complex scoring patterns and tournament-level play.

S

Smart Contract

Self-executing contracts with terms directly written into code. Mahjong Stars uses smart contracts for marketplace transactions, token operations, and certain governance functions.

Soft Currency

Earnable in-game credits used to purchase standard assets, enter tournaments and perform routine upgrades in Mahjong Stars. Can be earned through gameplay without cryptocurrency purchases.

Staking

The process of locking cryptocurrency tokens to earn rewards, gain access to features, or support network operations. Mahjong Stars offers staking tiers with different benefits.

Studio

A virtual space where players manage multiple character assets and AI companions. Studios allow team play, AI training acceleration, and monetisation through rentals. The pinnacle of collectible assets in Mahjong Stars.

T

TGE (Token Generation Event)

The initial creation and distribution of a cryptocurrency token, similar to an Initial Coin Offering (ICO). Marks the launch of the token to the public.

Tokenomics

The study and design of the economic model governing a blockchain token’s supply, distribution and utility. Encompasses all aspects of how a token functions within its ecosystem.

Tournament

A structured competition in which players or teams compete for prizes. Mahjong Stars features daily, weekly, and seasonal tournaments with various formats including single-elimination, Swiss system, and round-robin.

U

UI/UX (User Interface/User Experience)

UI refers to the visual elements players interact with, while UX encompasses the overall experience of using the platform. Mahjong Stars prioritizes intuitive UI/UX design.

V

Vesting Schedule

A timeline over which tokens or assets are gradually released to holders. Used to align long-term incentives and prevent sudden market flooding. Team and advisor tokens follow vesting schedules.

W

Wallet

A digital application or device that stores cryptocurrency and allows users to send and receive digital assets. Mahjong Stars integrates with various wallet types for blockchain features.

Web3

The third generation of internet services focusing on decentralization, blockchain technology, and token-based economics. Mahjong Stars bridges Web2 gaming with Web3 features.

Wind Tile

One of the four directional tiles in Mahjong (East, South, West, North). Wind tiles can form part of melds or score bonuses depending on the player’s seat position and the round.

Y

Yield Farming

The practice of staking or lending cryptocurrency to generate returns. Some Mahjong Stars staking mechanisms incorporate yield farming principles.

Mahjong-Specific Terms

Concealed Hand

A winning hand where all tiles except the winning tile are kept hidden from other players. Often scores bonus points due to increased difficulty.

Dead Wall

The final 14 tiles in the wall that are not used in regular play, reserved for replacement tiles when declaring kongs or in certain winning scenarios.

Dora

In Riichi Mahjong, bonus tiles that increase the value of a hand. Dora indicators are revealed during the game.

Furiten

In Riichi Mahjong, a state where a player cannot declare a win on another player’s discard if they’ve previously discarded a tile that would complete their hand.

Hand

The set of tiles (typically 13 or 14) held by a player. The goal is to form a winning hand according to variant-specific rules.

Open Hand

A hand with exposed melds from claiming other players’ discards. Generally scores fewer points than concealed hands.

Tile

The fundamental game piece in Mahjong. Standard sets include 136 or 144 tiles divided into suits (bamboo, characters, dots), honors (winds, dragons), and sometimes flowers/seasons.

Wall

The tiles arranged at the start of each hand, typically in a square formation. Players draw from the wall during gameplay.

Platform-Specific Terms

AI Training Facility

A feature within Studios where players can accelerate AI companion learning through targeted data sets and simulated matches.

Hybrid Play Mode

A Mahjong Stars feature allowing seamless switching between manual player control and AI companion autonomous play during matches.

Raffle

A lottery-style system for distributing rare charms and characters. Players earn or purchase raffle tickets through gameplay.

Session

A period of continuous gameplay. Mahjong Stars offers session management tools for responsible gaming.

Related Resources

• Introduction - Platform overview and vision
• Product Overview - Detailed feature explanations
• Game Economy - Economic terminology in context
• Player Experience - Gameplay-related terms

Need a term defined? If you encounter unfamiliar terminology not listed here, please contact our support team or check our community resources.