Mahjongg, originated in China about 150 years ago, is a fascinating, gin rummy-like game. The game has evolved to become a popular American pastime since it was first introduced to the U.S. in early 1920s.

　　约150年前始于中国的麻将是一个吸引人、类似于金罗美的的游戏。自从20世纪20年代初首次被介绍到美国之后，它就成了一个受美国人欢迎的娱乐。

　　NATIONAL MAHJONGG LEAGUE HAS 500,000 MEMBERS

　　国家麻将社团有50万名成员

　　"We play with a card, a mahjong card," Linda Fisher, Bryant Park’s mahjong area organizer, explained major differences between Chinese and American/Jewish style of the game.

　　布莱恩公园麻将区组织者琳达·费舍尔说道：“我们玩麻将。”她解释了中国和美国/犹太麻将的主要区别。

　　The league serves as the arbitrator for everything that relates to the American Mahjongg. It started with just 32 members when it was founded in 1937 to standardize the game. Each year proceeds from sales of the league’s official rules cards go directly to charitable organizations across the country.

　　这个社团负责仲裁与美国麻将相关的所有事情。它设立之初只有32名成员，目的是使麻将规范化。每年，由出售社团官方规则卡片获得的收益都会直接捐给全国的各个慈善机构。

　　"(Today) they have 500,000 members, so it’s very, very popular," Fisher said. "When you buy a card from them, the money goes to charity."

　　“现在有50万名成员了，麻将真的是太流行了，”费舍尔说道。“当你从他们那儿购买卡片时，钱就用于了慈善。”

　　Culturally, mahjong was important in Chinatown in the 1920s and 1930s, as it gave Chinese Americans a cultural bond at a time when many other Americans saw them as "perpetual foreigners," he said.

　　从文化上来说，麻将在20世纪20年代和20世纪30年代的唐人街十分重要，因为它在很多其他美国人视华裔美国人为“永久的外人”之时给了他们一个文化纽带。