形式聴牌けいしきてんぱい

noun

yaku-less tenpai; hand one tile from completion without a valid win condition

In mahjong, a hand that is tenpai (one tile away from winning) but lacks any yaku (winning condition), so it cannot be declared a win even if the needed tile is drawn.

• 形けい式しき聴てん牌ぱいの状じょう態たいでは、あがり牌はいを引ひいても和了あがれない。

  In a yaku-less tenpai state, you cannot win even if you draw the winning tile.

• 初しょ心しん者しゃは形けい式しき聴てん牌ぱいに気きづかず、無む駄だな待まちを続つづけることがある。

  Beginners sometimes fail to notice a yaku-less tenpai and keep waiting uselessly.