Playing cardsPlaying cards in English were either "playing cards" or "(playing) cards", which could also be called "cartes a jouer"(French etymology) or "Torranpo"(Japanese name, derived from the English name "trump" for the "trump card" in bridge and other card games). The colors and faces of the playing cards were as follows:
- Spades: The cards were 2 (Two), 3 (Three), 4 (Four), 5 (Five), 6 (Six), 7 (Seven), 8 (Eight), 9 (Nine), 10 (Ten), Jack (Servant), Queen (Queen), King (King), Ace (Ace), Joker (Ghost cards, commonly known as "King" and "Little King".
- Hearts (also known as Hearts): There are also 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace, Joker.
- Diamonds (also known as diamonds): There are 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace.
- Clubs: . The cards are 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace, Joker.
In addition, some English idioms related to playing cards are as follows:
- Play cards.
- Card up one's sleeve: a secret plan, idea, or advantage in reserve.
- "In the cards": It's very likely to happen in the future (mainly used in affirmations);"Not in the cards": It's hopeless.
- "Count on one's own cards": fearless and self-reliant.
- "Hold all the cards": Dominate the overall situation, everything is under control, hold all the winning cards.
- lay all one's cards on the table
Playing CardsThe following are some common English terms used in playing cards (using mahjong as an example):
- * * Mahjong related **:
- Mahjong: Mahjong or mah-jongg, a tile in mahjong.
- The circle/dots tiles.
- The bamboo tiles.
- Wan Zi: The character tiles.
- The honor tiles (dragon tiles + wind tiles).
- * * Basic Terminology **:
- "Eat": Chou, meaning to claim a tile to match a sequence.
- "Pung" means to claim a tile to match a triad.
- "Kong" means to claim a tile for a quad.
- He (Hu): Claiming a tile to win.
- "The Kitty."
- "Chip": counter, chip, or dib.
- Side tiles.
- "Eat Zhang": drawing.
- Discard a tile.
- [dealer]
- Opponent on the left.
- "Next house": Opponent on the right.
- Opposite: Opposite sitting opposite to one.
- Three players looking for one more player.
- [Skipping]
- Shuffling the tiles.
- "Lian Zhuang": remaining the dealer.
- One pair.
- One time (in scoring).
- A round.
- Following suit.
- Drawing a useful tile.
- "Dutong": waiting for two tiles to win or making two pairs.
- Holding up a tile.
- "Listen": waiting for the one necessary tile to win.
- Dark Bar: Drawing a tile by oneself, making four similar tiles of a kind and putting them face down.
- Concealing 3-tiles in order of a kind.
- Eight rounds of play.
- Lacking a suit.
- Robbing a gong.
- Solo fishing: waiting for one of the pair to win.
- Listening alone: awaiting the only one necessary tile to win.
- "Earth Harmony": going out or winning a hand after drawing only one tile.
- "tag": fishing or awaiting one's winning tile.
- "Duiduihu": winning with all paired tiles or all triplets.
- Self-draw: Winning by one's own draw or self-drawn.
- To be won by one's left or opposing opponent with the same tile one needs.
- Peace: A win without points or a common hand.
- Chicken hand.
- Grand slam.
- "Blossoms on the Bar": Drawing a tile, after a gang, from the end of the wall to win the game or adding glory to the game.
- Seven pairs.
- All of one suit, flush, or having all tiles in one suit.