# Fuzzy query using Levenshtein distance in Simple\_query\_string doesn't work on Chinese/Japanese words

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/fuzzy-query-using-levenshtein-distance-in-simple-query-string-doesnt-work-on-chinese-japanese-words/356296>\
**Category:** Elasticsearch\
**Created:** [March 27, 2024, 2:32pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/fuzzy-query-using-levenshtein-distance-in-simple-query-string-doesnt-work-on-chinese-japanese-words/356296 "2024-03-27T14:32:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![sudo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/sudo/32/29414_2.png) [@sudo](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/sudo)\
**Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 2:32pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/fuzzy-query-using-levenshtein-distance-in-simple-query-string-doesnt-work-on-chinese-japanese-words/356296/1 "2024-03-27T14:32:43Z")

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I have been using simple\_query\_string and it works well with english words/chars:

```auto
{
    "simple_query_string": {
        "default_operator": "OR",
        "analyze_wildcard": true,
        "fields": [
            "d.c.a.v.av"
        ],
        "query": "guthrie~2 public~2 schools~2"
    }
}

```

But with Chinese chars, it doesn't return any matching records:

```auto
{
    "simple_query_string": {
        "default_operator": "OR",
        "analyze_wildcard": true,
        "fields": [
            "d.c.a.v.av"
        ],
        "query": " 呼和浩特市~2"
    }
}

```

As per my understanding edit distance may not work with Logographic character system, which could be probable reason.

I would like to understand if this argument is correct and Edit distance based fuzzy query won't work for Chinese/Japanese words.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\
**Post date:** [April 24, 2024, 2:33pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/fuzzy-query-using-levenshtein-distance-in-simple-query-string-doesnt-work-on-chinese-japanese-words/356296/2 "2024-04-24T14:33:07Z")

</div>

Closed on April 24, 2024, 2:33pm UTC

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