noun
being in tenpai without calling riichi
In mahjong, a state where a player's hand is ready to win (tenpai) but they choose not to declare riichi, often to keep the hand concealed or flexible. Compare with 立直 (riichi).
See also: 聴牌 (テンパイ) · 立直 (リーチ)
闇聴で待つほうが、相手に読まれにくい。
Waiting in tenpai without calling riichi makes it harder for opponents to read your hand.
彼は闇聴から一発でツモった。
He drew the winning tile on his first draw while in tenpai without declaring riichi.
聴牌 (tenpai) is the general state of being one tile away from winning. 闇聴 (yamiten) specifically means being in tenpai without declaring riichi.
立直 (riichi) is the declaration that you are in tenpai, which comes with restrictions and bonuses. 闇聴 is the opposite choice: staying silent while ready.
Compound of 闇 (yami, 'darkness, hidden') and 聴 (ten, abbreviation of 聴牌 tenpai). Literally 'hidden tenpai'.