The growing popularity of mahjong

This episode of Plain English explores the surprising resurgence of mahjong, a traditional Chinese tile-based game that's experiencing a global revival. Once popular in the early 20th century but later declined, mahjong is now making a comeback in cities worldwide—from New York and London to Berlin and Sydney—thanks to social clubs, pop culture references in films like Crazy Rich Asians, and celebrity endorsements from figures like Julia Roberts and Meghan Markle. The episode details the game’s origins in 19th-century Shanghai, its introduction to America via Abercrombie & Fitch, and the two main versions: traditional mahjong with simple winning patterns and American mahjong, which uses annual pattern cards that change yearly. Despite some confusion caused by a notable misprint in last year’s official card, the game continues to grow in popularity, especially among younger generations and groups seeking social, strategic, and conversational engagement. The episode also highlights the accessibility of the game—from affordable tile sets to luxury designer versions by Hermes and Louis Vuitton—and the wide range of online tutorials and apps available for learning.