---
name: "gb2312"
section: "5"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["freebsd", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/gb2312"
---

# gb2312(5)

GB2312 encoding method for Chinese text

## NAME

**gb2312** – GB2312 encoding method for Chinese text

## SYNOPSIS

**ENCODING** "GB2312"

## DESCRIPTION

The **GB2312** encoding implements GB 2312-1980, a PRC national standard for the encoding of simplified Chinese characters.

Multibyte characters in the GB2312 encoding can be one byte or two bytes long. GB 11383-1981 (ASCII) characters are represented by single bytes in the range 0x00 to 0x7F. Simplified Chinese characters are represented by two bytes, both in the range 0xA1-0xFE.

## SEE ALSO

[euc(5)](/euc/5.md), [gb18030(5)](/gb18030/5.md), [gbk(5)](/gbk/5.md)

## STANDARDS

The **GB2312** encoding is believed to be compatible with GB 2312-1980. This standard has been superseded by GB 18030-2000, but is still in wide use.