PURPOSE: To execute correct recognition by taking a matching, even in case when an input character is not written by correct number of strokes and writing order.

CONSTITUTION: A stroke coupling part 7 calculates a distance to all standard characters in accordance with a coupling data of a coupling data memory, based on a result by a distance calculating part 5 and a stroke coordinating part 6, with respect to an input character. This calculation result is given to a minimum distance deciding part 8, from which a standard character corresponding to the minimum distance is outputted as a result of recognition. In this way, even with respect to coupling between two strokes being different from a correct writing order, a handwritten character recognizing device which can take a matching is obtained.