What is Yakuman in Mahjong? The 13-Han Top Tier
Yakuman is the top scoring tier — a fixed payout regardless of fu, han or dora. Hitting one feels rare because the qualifying shapes are intentionally restrictive.
What is yakuman?
Yakuman (役満) is a fixed 32000 base-point award for completing one of about a dozen special hand shapes — Kokushi Musou, Suuankou, Daisangen, Tsuuiisou, Chuuren Poutou and friends. Han and fu are ignored; the score jumps straight to the top tier.
How much is a yakuman worth?
Non-dealer: 32000 from a ron, or 8000 / 8000 / 16000 on a tsumo (other two non-dealers pay 8000 each, dealer pays 16000). Dealer: 48000 from a ron, or 16000 from each of the other three on a tsumo. A single yakuman can swing an entire hanchan.
What is kazoe yakuman (counted yakuman)?
Kazoe yakuman (数え役満) is when a hand reaches 13 or more han through normal yaku and dora without any actual yakuman shape, and is paid at the yakuman tier. Some rulesets treat this as a regular yakuman; others reserve the term for shape-based ones. Many casual rulesets disable kazoe yakuman entirely.
What is double yakuman?
A few shapes are scored as double yakuman (64000 base) under stricter rules — Kokushi Musou with a 13-way wait, Suuankou Tanki (single-tile pair wait), pure Chuuren Poutou (nine-way wait), and Daisuushii (four-wind triplets). Tournament rulesets usually enable double yakuman; many online clients do not.
Can yakuman stack with other yaku?
No — once a hand qualifies as yakuman, it pays out at the yakuman tier and additional yaku or dora do not add to it. The only exception is multiple yakuman in the same hand (e.g. Daisangen + Tsuuiisou), which scores as multiple yakuman. Dora indicators never push a yakuman higher.