Is チョンボ commonly used to mean mistake (outside of conversations about 麻雀), even by people who don't play it?


I heard someone say チョンボを犯した in a situation where they could not possibly be
talking about 麻雀. I don't know if he plays 麻雀 or not, but it made me wonder,
how common is using チョンボ to mean mistake among people who don't play 麻雀?




Yes, チョンボ can be used in non-mahjong situations. As you know, it is originally
a mahjong term, but its meaning of "making a mistake" has been carried over to
everyday usage. It is even in
[dictionaries](https://ejje.weblio.jp/content/%E3%83%81%E3%83%A7%E3%83%B3%E3%83%9C).

As for how common, I don't hear it all too often, but enough for me not to
automatically assume it's about mahjong just by hearing it.

Note that there are many [mahjong terms that have made it into everyday
use](http://majandofu.com/mahjong-vocabulary#p10). テンパる、メンツ、リーチ、安牌、ワンチャン are
ones I still hear used a lot.




Yes, チョンボ can be used in non-mahjong situations. As you know, it is originally
a mahjong term, but its meaning of "making a mistake" has been carried over to
everyday usage. It is even in
[dictionaries](https://ejje.weblio.jp/content/%E3%83%81%E3%83%A7%E3%83%B3%E3%83%9C).

As for how common, I don't hear it all too often, but enough for me not to
automatically assume it's about mahjong just by hearing it.

Note that there are many [mahjong terms that have made it into everyday
use](http://majandofu.com/mahjong-vocabulary#p10). テンパる、メンツ、リーチ、安牌、ワンチャン are
ones I still hear used a lot.

