A character recognition method carries out a character recognition using a cross section sequence graph which describes features of a character image. The character recognition method includes the steps of (a) extracting the cross section sequence graph from a character string image, (b) analyzing a singular region of the cross section sequence graph and generating a virtual boundary point sequence in the singular region based on an analyzed result, (c) generating character candidates by combining structural elements of the cross section sequence graph and recognizing one character by supplying the virtual boundary point sequence with respect to the generated character candidates if necessary, and (d) recognizing a character string based on an adjacency relationship of the character candidates which are recognized as one character in the step (c).