noun
General term for playing cards, including Western-style cards. Less common than トランプ in modern Japanese.
骨牌で遊ぶのは久しぶりだ。
It's been a while since I played with playing cards.
noun
mahjong tiles made of animal bone
Specifically refers to mahjong tiles crafted from animal bone, as opposed to modern plastic or other materials. Domain-specific term used in mahjong contexts.
この骨牌は象牙ではなく牛骨でできている。
These mahjong tiles are made of cow bone, not ivory.