diff --git a/nemo_text_processing/inverse_text_normalization/zh/taggers/cardinal.py b/nemo_text_processing/inverse_text_normalization/zh/taggers/cardinal.py
index f3b30238c..d1f2eb29b 100644
--- a/nemo_text_processing/inverse_text_normalization/zh/taggers/cardinal.py
+++ b/nemo_text_processing/inverse_text_normalization/zh/taggers/cardinal.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 import pynini
 from pynini.lib import pynutil
 
-from nemo_text_processing.inverse_text_normalization.zh.graph_utils import NEMO_DIGIT, NEMO_SIGMA, GraphFst
+from nemo_text_processing.inverse_text_normalization.zh.graph_utils import NEMO_CHAR, NEMO_DIGIT, NEMO_SIGMA, GraphFst
 from nemo_text_processing.inverse_text_normalization.zh.utils import get_abs_path
 
 
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ def __init__(self):
         # grammar for tens, not the output for Cardinal grammar but for pure Arabic digits (used in other grammars)
         graph_tens = (ties + graph_digits) | (pynini.cross(pynini.accep("零"), "0") + graph_digits)
         graph_all = graph_tens | graph_teens | pynutil.insert("00")
+        graph_all = graph_all.optimize()
 
         # grammar for hundreds 百
         graph_hundreds_complex = (
@@ -336,7 +337,7 @@ def __init__(self):
             graph_teens,
             graph_digits,
             zero,
-        )
+        ).optimize()
 
         # combining grammar; output consists only arabic numbers
         graph_just_cardinals = pynini.union(
@@ -354,29 +355,42 @@ def __init__(self):
             graph_teens,
             graph_digits,
             zero,
-        )
+        ).optimize()
 
         # delete unnecessary leading zero
         delete_leading_zeros = pynutil.delete(pynini.closure("0"))
         stop_at_non_zero = pynini.difference(NEMO_DIGIT, "0")
-        rest_of_cardinal = pynini.closure(NEMO_DIGIT) | pynini.closure(NEMO_SIGMA)
+        rest_of_cardinal = (pynini.closure(NEMO_DIGIT) + pynini.closure(NEMO_CHAR, 1)) | (
+            pynini.closure(NEMO_DIGIT)
+        )  # general use cases for other graphs
+        rest_of_cardinal_2 = (pynini.closure(NEMO_DIGIT) + pynini.closure(NEMO_CHAR, 1)) | (
+            pynini.closure(NEMO_DIGIT, 2)
+        )  # for normal cardinal graph
 
         # output for cardinal grammar without leading zero
         clean_cardinal = delete_leading_zeros + stop_at_non_zero + rest_of_cardinal
-        clean_cardinal = clean_cardinal | "0"
-        graph = graph @ clean_cardinal  # output for regular cardinals
-        self.for_ordinals = graph  # used for ordinal grammars
+        clean_cardinal_2 = delete_leading_zeros + stop_at_non_zero + rest_of_cardinal_2
+        clean_just_cardinal = delete_leading_zeros + stop_at_non_zero + rest_of_cardinal
+
+        # union zero with graph to stop overproduced 0's from the inserts.
+        # TODO: Rewrite digits graphs so that we don't have free floating zero inserts.
+        self.for_ordinals = (graph | zero) @ clean_cardinal  # used for ordinal grammars
+        self.for_ordinals = self.for_ordinals.optimize()
 
         # output for pure arabic number without leading zero
-        clean_just_cardinal = delete_leading_zeros + stop_at_non_zero + rest_of_cardinal
-        clean_just_cardinal = clean_just_cardinal | "0"
         graph_just_cardinals = graph_just_cardinals @ clean_just_cardinal  # output for other grammars
-        self.just_cardinals = graph_just_cardinals  # used for other grammars
+        self.just_cardinals = graph_just_cardinals | zero  # used for other grammars
+        self.just_cardinals = self.just_cardinals.optimize()
 
         # final grammar for cardinal output; tokenization
         optional_minus_graph = (pynini.closure(pynutil.insert("negative: ") + pynini.cross("负", '"-"'))) | (
             pynini.closure(pynutil.insert("negative: ") + pynini.cross("負", '"-"'))
         )
-        final_graph = optional_minus_graph + pynutil.insert('integer: "') + graph + pynutil.insert('"')
+        final_graph = (
+            optional_minus_graph
+            + pynutil.insert('integer: "')
+            + ((graph | zero) @ clean_cardinal_2)
+            + pynutil.insert('"')
+        )
         final_graph = self.add_tokens(final_graph)
-        self.fst = final_graph
+        self.fst = final_graph.optimize()
diff --git a/nemo_text_processing/inverse_text_normalization/zh/taggers/tokenize_and_classify.py b/nemo_text_processing/inverse_text_normalization/zh/taggers/tokenize_and_classify.py
index 2877d4160..3de2cf768 100644
--- a/nemo_text_processing/inverse_text_normalization/zh/taggers/tokenize_and_classify.py
+++ b/nemo_text_processing/inverse_text_normalization/zh/taggers/tokenize_and_classify.py
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ def __init__(
                 pynini.closure(punct + pynutil.insert(" ")) + token + pynini.closure(pynutil.insert(" ") + punct)
             )
 
-            graph = token_plus_punct + pynini.closure(delete_zero_or_one_space + token_plus_punct)
+            graph = token_plus_punct + pynini.closure(delete_space + token_plus_punct)
             graph = delete_space + graph + delete_space
 
             self.fst = graph.optimize()