The Four Great Winds - Beginner's Guide to Mah Jong

The game was originally called máquè or maa4 zoek3 in Cantonese which translates to “Sparrow”. The shuffling of mahjong tiles was said to be similar to the sound of the chattering of sparrows.

Mahjong is a game of strategy, skill, and luck. It is played with 144 (or 136 without flowers) tiles that are based on Chinese characters and symbols.

Meet other players in the community while trying to build the winning hand with four sets and a pair of tiles. First to finish putting their hand together, wins!

What You'll Learn:

• Fundamental Rules on How to Play
• How to Make a Winning Hand
• Phrases to Say During Play

• Community-driven: Connect face-to-face around a table and build a multigenerational community around the tiles
• Fun & Challenging: Recognize patterns, track what others discard, and strategize
• Tactile: Enjoy the feel and sound of tiles- shuffling, stacking, and clicking
• Skill-building: accessible to beginners yet the strategy is rich enough to stay interesting for years

Limited seats! Reserve yours now.

About Sunset Commons:

Carmen and Steven started Sunset Commons to provide a space to connect and build community through arts and craft activities led by talented local artists. Inspired by a love for creativity and a desire to foster connection in the Sunset District, we envisioned a “third space” where neighbors can gather, unwind, and form meaningful relationships. Our mission is to empower self-expression, boost confidence, and offer an inclusive haven for everyone, from introverts seeking a calm environment to those enjoying health-focused traditional teas. Sunset Commons is not just a business - it’s our way of enriching the community we love and to the city we both grew up in.

*Our events are often photographed and filmed so we can share the fun with our community. If you don’t want to be on camera, no worries—let us know before the event.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Sunset Commons, 1600 Irving Street, San Francisco, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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