老頭牌らおとうぱい

noun

terminals; suited tiles numbered 1 or 9

Mahjong term for the end tiles of each suit: 1 and 9 of characters, circles, and bamboo. Often used in discussions of yaku such as 混老頭 or 清老頭.

from Chinese lǎo tóu pái

• 老頭らおとう牌ぱいは、各かくスートの1と9の牌ぱいのことです。

  Terminals are the 1 and 9 tiles of each suit.

• 混老頭ほんろうとうを作つくるには、老頭らおとう牌ぱいと字牌つーぱいだけを集あつめます。

  To make a mixed terminals hand, collect only terminals and honor tiles.