noun
yaku-less tenpai; hand one tile from completion without a valid win condition
Mahjong term; abbreviation of 形式聴牌. Describes a hand that is technically tenpai but cannot win because it lacks a yaku (scoring combination).
See also: 形式聴牌
形テンで流局した。
The hand ended in a draw with a yaku-less tenpai.
あがれない形テンでも、流局時に聴牌料はもらえる。
Even with a yaku-less tenpai that can't win, you still receive the tenpai payment at an exhaustive draw.
Abbreviation of 形式聴牌 (keishiki tenpai), literally 'formal tenpai'. The kanji 形 means 'form' and 聴 is used in mahjong for 'tenpai' (waiting).