<p>The measure word for 饼、条、万 is called <code>门</code>, which literally means 'department; division; faction'. </p>

<p>Example usage:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>……序数牌……分“筒子/饼”、“索子/条”、“万子/万”三<b>门</b>，每<b>门</b>有序数从一至九的牌各四张。(from <a href="http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%BA%BB%E5%B0%86" rel="nofollow">wikipedia</a>)</p>
</blockquote>

<p>An alternative measure word is <code>(花)色</code>, which literally means color/pattern. 色 is also widely used. </p>

<p>When talking about the abstract concept of 'suit' in Mahjong, per my own experience <code>门</code> is more common, although <code>色</code> is perfectly fine too. There might be regional differences though.</p>

<p>When it comes to specific Mahjong terminologies like <code>清一色</code> or <code>一色三步高</code>, those are set phrases in which 色 should not be replaced by 门. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-28T20:33:53.627Z
@倪阔乐 Of course I know 清一色, but that's not what the OP was asking. The question is about the name of the concept/measure word for 饼、条、万. I'll update the answer to clarify.
NS.X.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-28T22:04:06.527Z
@倪阔乐 Why don't you improve your own answer to be better than NS.X.'s if you disagree with his.
Stumpy Joe Pete
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-28T22:05:21.497Z
@倪阔乐 Both 门 and 色 are right translation for 'suit' and I can find plenty of references that use 门, even in your Baidu link (under 四川麻将 section: 麻将牌只有筒、条、万三门；缺门可胡). You made good point though for the set phrases like 清一色, and I've updated my answer to reflect that.
NS.X.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-28T19:54:40.490Z
2014-10-28T22:10:51.917Z
2014-10-28T22:10:51.917Z
NS.X.
<p>With playing cards with French faces, ♣♠♥♦ are collectively called <em>suits</em> in English, <em>Farben</em> (<em>"colours"</em>) in German.</p>

<p>With majiang tiles, what is the collective noun in Chinese for 饼、条、万, a property of 序数牌?</p>

<vocabulary>
What is the word in majiang equivalent to suits in cards?
# What is the word in majiang equivalent to suits in cards?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-10-28)

With playing cards with French faces, ♣♠♥♦ are collectively called *suits* in English, *Farben* (*"colours"*) in German.

With majiang tiles, what is the collective noun in Chinese for 饼、条、万, a property of 序数牌?

**Tags:** vocabulary

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-10-28. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

The measure word for 饼、条、万 is called `门`, which literally means 'department; division; faction'.

Example usage:

> ……序数牌……分“筒子/饼”、“索子/条”、“万子/万”三**门**，每**门**有序数从一至九的牌各四张。(from [wikipedia](http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%BA%BB%E5%B0%86))

An alternative measure word is `(花)色`, which literally means color/pattern. 色 is also widely used.

When talking about the abstract concept of 'suit' in Mahjong, per my own experience `门` is more common, although `色` is perfectly fine too. There might be regional differences though.

When it comes to specific Mahjong terminologies like `清一色` or `一色三步高`, those are set phrases in which 色 should not be replaced by 门.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: @倪阔乐 Of course I know 清一色, but that's not what the OP was asking. The question is about the name of the concept/measure word for 饼、条、万. I'll update the answer to clarify.  
> **username_2**: @倪阔乐 Why don't you improve your own answer to be better than NS.X.'s if you disagree with his.  
> **username_1**: @倪阔乐 Both 门 and 色 are right translation for 'suit' and I can find plenty of references that use 门, even in your Baidu link (under 四川麻将 section: 麻将牌只有筒、条、万三门；缺门可胡). You made good point though for the set phrases like 清一色, and I've updated my answer to reflect that.  

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