<p>Refer to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahjong#Mahjong_in_the_West" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Mahjong In The West</a></p>

<p>I think it is just a translation problem.</p>

<p>In the old times, romanisation in Chinese Language like <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jyutping" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Cantonese Romanisation</a> is not really common, like in this case, Mahjong might be translated from the Wu Dialect or Northern Chinese Language, I'm not sure about that.</p>

<p>You might also refer to this <a href="https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/176842/what-is-the-story-behind-the-word-mahjong">The Mahjong Origin</a></p>

<p>I hope I did answer your question. :)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-20T01:21:54.757Z
2017-06-20T01:21:54.757Z
Jacky X.
<p>It's a perfectly normal way of transcribing the long "aahhh" sound into English. In this case it tells us that the game is not mayjong, nor muhjong. </p>

<p>No doctor ever asked you to "Say a."  It's always "Say `Ah'."</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-03-20T06:49:28.690Z
I have never seen a doctor write down what you're supposed to say to open your mouth.
Olle Linge
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-21T21:11:48.357Z
2017-06-21T21:11:48.357Z
David Lloyd-Jones
<p>It's because the English spelling is based on an old Chinese romanization system called 'Wade-Giles' (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wade%E2%80%93Giles" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wade–Giles</a>) (I think).</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-21T20:07:55.030Z
Where in the article speaks about ah? I can only find eh and ih.
Petruza
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-21T20:22:33.003Z
This is not Wade Giles.
Colin McLarty
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-21T20:23:26.973Z
Hmm... maybe not. Maybe it's not a standard romanization system and just arbitrarily chosen spelling.
aansible
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-21T19:28:24.607Z
2017-06-21T20:08:37.993Z
2017-06-21T20:08:37.993Z
aansible
<p>What romanization system of what language or dialect is this from?<br>
I've seen no other romanization of Mandarin or other Chinese languages or dialects use a final H.  </p>

<p>Or may it be just common english-speaking use to avoid being pronounced may-jong?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-21T10:24:07.797Z
Mahjong spread to West way before Pinyin, so I think your guess is correct. It's a non-ambiguous English spelling to reproduce the sound.
jf328
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-22T17:21:48.597Z
Mahjong spread to the west slightly before Wade Giles did, and decades before Hanyu Pinyin was created.
Colin McLarty
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-03-17T13:48:52.777Z
I think only an English\* etymologist could possibly have an answer. *: note that "Mahjong" is actually an English word, not Chinese.
zypA13510
<romanization>
Why does the romanization Mahjong have a final H after ma?
# Why does the romanization Mahjong have a final H after ma?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-06-19)

What romanization system of what language or dialect is this from?  
I've seen no other romanization of Mandarin or other Chinese languages or dialects use a final H.

Or may it be just common english-speaking use to avoid being pronounced may-jong?

**Tags:** romanization

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Mahjong spread to West way before Pinyin, so I think your guess is correct. It's a non-ambiguous English spelling to reproduce the sound.  
> **username_2**: Mahjong spread to the west slightly before Wade Giles did, and decades before Hanyu Pinyin was created.  
> **username_3**: I think only an English\* etymologist could possibly have an answer. *: note that "Mahjong" is actually an English word, not Chinese.  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2017-06-20. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

Refer to [Mahjong In The West](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahjong#Mahjong_in_the_West)

I think it is just a translation problem.

In the old times, romanisation in Chinese Language like [Cantonese Romanisation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jyutping) is not really common, like in this case, Mahjong might be translated from the Wu Dialect or Northern Chinese Language, I'm not sure about that.

You might also refer to this [The Mahjong Origin](https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/176842/what-is-the-story-behind-the-word-mahjong)

I hope I did answer your question. :)


---

### Answer by username_5 on 2017-06-21. Score: -1

It's a perfectly normal way of transcribing the long "aahhh" sound into English. In this case it tells us that the game is not mayjong, nor muhjong.

No doctor ever asked you to "Say a." It's always "Say `Ah'."

> **Comments:**
> **username_6**: I have never seen a doctor write down what you're supposed to say to open your mouth.  

---

### Answer by username_7 on 2017-06-21. Score: -1

It's because the English spelling is based on an old Chinese romanization system called 'Wade-Giles' ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wade–Giles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wade%E2%80%93Giles)) (I think).

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Where in the article speaks about ah? I can only find eh and ih.  
> **username_2**: This is not Wade Giles.  
> **username_7**: Hmm... maybe not. Maybe it's not a standard romanization system and just arbitrarily chosen spelling.  

---

