noun
being in tenpai without calling riichi
Mahjong term: a hand that is ready to win (tenpai) but the player chooses not to declare riichi, often to keep flexibility or avoid revealing the hand.
See also: 聴牌 (テンパイ) · 立直 (リーチ)
黙聴で待つと、相手が油断して振り込んでくれることがある。
If you wait in damaten, sometimes your opponent will let their guard down and deal into your hand.
リーチをかけずに黙聴で進めるか、それともリーチするか迷った。
I was unsure whether to proceed in damaten without calling riichi or to declare riichi.