Use PMingLiU for body text and only switch to MingLiU-ExtB for the specific rare characters. Never set an entire document to MingLiU-ExtB.
While the standard MingLiU font has been refined over decades with hinted outlines to look crisp on screens, the characters in MingLiU-ExtB were often sourced from different standards (like the CNS standard in Taiwan) to meet the massive demand for quantity. mingliuextb font
One of the primary reasons MingLiU-ExtB exists is to support the Unicode CJK Unified Ideographs Extension B. While the standard MingLiU font covers the most commonly used characters in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and other regions using Traditional Chinese, it lacks the capacity to store the massive influx of characters added in later Unicode versions. Extension B contains over 42,000 characters, many of which are archaic, used in specific surnames, or required for precise historical documentation. Use PMingLiU for body text and only switch
Despite these aesthetic drawbacks, MingLiU-ExtB is a hero of functionality. It prioritizes over beauty, ensuring that no character is left behind. One of the primary reasons MingLiU-ExtB exists is
| Font Name | Platform | Unicode Coverage | Quality | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Windows/Mac/Linux (Google) | Ext-B, Ext-C, Ext-D, Ext-E, Ext-F | Excellent (covers 70k+ characters) | | Han Nom | Linux/macOS | Ext-B + Vietnamese Chu Nom | Good | | BabelStone Han | All (Freeware) | Ext-B through Ext-F (over 80k glyphs) | Excellent (best for rare characters) | | Apple LiSung Pro | macOS only | Ext-B (partial) | Moderate |