CJK font fix for Word
Fix garbled Chinese, Japanese, and Korean characters when converting Markdown to Word
A common problem with Markdown to Word conversion, including Pandoc, is that the output .docx uses a default Western font with no CJK glyphs, so Chinese, Japanese, and Korean text shows up as boxes, missing characters, or a mismatched fallback font. This page explains why it happens and how to export with a proper CJK font from the start.
Your Markdown contains Chinese, Japanese, or Korean text, and the exported Word document shows garbled characters, empty boxes, or the wrong font.
You converted with Pandoc or another tool using its default template, which sets a Western font like Calibri or Times New Roman that does not include CJK glyphs.
You want the .docx to open correctly in Word, WPS, or LibreOffice on both Windows and macOS without a manual "select all, change font" step.
Example input
A realistic Markdown snippet before conversion.
# 项目说明
## 背景
本项目用于将 Markdown 转换为 Word 文档，并保留中文字符的正常显示。
| 阶段 | 状态 |
| --- | --- |
| 设计 | 已完成 |
| 开发 | 进行中 |
> 注意：导出后请检查中文字体是否正确。Expected Word / Markdown output
What you should verify in the converted document.
- Chinese headings, body text, and table content render with a proper CJK font instead of empty boxes or a Western fallback font.
- The document looks the same on Windows, macOS, and in LibreOffice or WPS Office, because the font is applied as a style rather than left to the viewer’s default.
- No "Find and Replace Font" step is needed in Word after opening the file.
Workflow
How to get a cleaner document
Conversion quality improves when the source Markdown is explicit, diagrams are valid, and Word-only cleanup is saved for the final document.
- Step 1
Paste or upload Markdown that contains Chinese, Japanese, or Korean text.
- Step 2
Check the live preview to confirm the CJK characters render as expected.
- Step 3
Open the font selector and choose SimSun, Microsoft YaHei, or another CJK-compatible font.
- Step 4
Download the .docx — CJK text uses the selected font throughout the document.
Common mistakes to avoid
- !Using a Pandoc default reference.docx that only defines a Western font, leaving CJK text to fall back to whatever font the viewer has installed.
- !Assuming a document looks correct because it renders fine on your machine — a font installed locally may not be installed on a reviewer’s computer.
- !Mixing CJK and Latin text in the same heading without checking that both render correctly with the chosen font.
- !Exporting once without checking the preview, so font issues are only discovered after sharing the document.
Why this workflow is different
- The font list includes SimSun (宋体) and Microsoft YaHei (微软雅黑), two of the most common CJK-compatible fonts for Word documents.
- The selected font is applied to the whole document during export, including headings, body text, and tables, not just the first paragraph.
- The live preview shows how CJK text will look before you download, so you can confirm characters render correctly.
Comparison
Pandoc vs Word plugins vs Google Docs vs Markdown to Word Converter
Frequently asked questions
Why do Chinese characters look broken after converting Markdown to Word?
Most converters, including Pandoc with its default template, set a Western font such as Calibri that does not include Chinese glyphs. The viewer then substitutes a fallback font, which can look inconsistent or show empty boxes if no CJK font is available.
Does this tool support SimSun and Microsoft YaHei?
Yes. Both SimSun (宋体) and Microsoft YaHei (微软雅黑) are available in the font selector and are applied to the entire document on export.
Will the fonts work on macOS and Linux too?
SimSun and Microsoft YaHei are most commonly preinstalled on Windows. On macOS or Linux, the document will reference the chosen font name; if it is not installed, the system substitutes a similar font, but the style is still applied consistently across the document.
Can I mix English and Chinese text in the same document?
Yes. Choose a font that covers both Latin and CJK glyphs, such as Microsoft YaHei, and preview the document to confirm both languages render as expected before downloading.
Is this useful if I am not using Pandoc?
Yes. The same font-fallback problem happens with many Markdown to Word tools and even plain copy-paste into Word. Selecting a CJK font before export avoids the issue regardless of how the Markdown was written.