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How Many Chinese Characters Exist?

The exact number of Chinese characters varied during the different dynasties. In the course of time various dictionaries were written which included different numbers of characters. At the time of the "shell-and-bone" style of writing there were already about 4000 characters in use. The Kangxi Cidian (康熙辞典) (18th century) which was compiled during the time of the Qing dynasty (清朝), includes almost 50 000 Chinese characters.

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