1. A pattern recognition processing system in which a pattern to be recognized is scanned to extract, as an imaginary segment, a white area defined between figure strokes and between the pattern stroke and circumscribed frame for the recognition of the pattern, said system comprising segment extracting means for extracting the starting and terminating endpoints of the segment and detecting whether the endpoints are in contact with the pattern stroke, and open endpoint extension processing means for extending the segment from the endpoints if the endpoint is an open endpoint out of contact with the pattern stroke, whereby to extract the segment that the extension of at least one of the open endpoints of the extracted segment is not blocked by the pattern stroke.