saam1 sok3三索

Jyutpingsaam1 sok3

Yalesāam sok

Definition

Three of Bamboos, a tile in the game of mahjong.

colloquialother

How it's used

This term is specific to Mahjong terminology and refers to the tile featuring three bamboo sticks. It follows the standard pattern of naming bamboo tiles by combining a number with the word 索. Players often use it during the heat of a game to announce discards or declare a winning hand.

Measure word

zek3隻jek

Examples

nei5你daa2打zo2咗zoeng1張saam1三sok3索mei6未aa4呀？

Have you discarded the three bamboo tile yet?

ngo5我zung6仲zaang1爭jat1一zoeng1張saam1三sok3索zau6就sik6食wu4糊laa3喇。

I only need one three bamboo to win the hand.

Common phrases

daa2打saam1三sok3索

discard a three bamboo tile

mo2摸saam1三sok3索

draw a three bamboo tile

Common mistake

Beginners often confuse 索 with 筒 or 萬, so ensure you recognize the visual pattern of the bamboo sticks on the tile face. Remember that in Cantonese, the number comes before the suit name.