About the book: 2013 / The book presents 214 key hieroglyphs that make up the “Table of Key Signs”, according to which hieroglyphs are systematized in Japanese and Chinese dictionaries. By analogy with ancient Chinese dictionaries, the key characters in the book are divided into six semantic groups. The practical experience of many people who begin to study Chinese and Japanese shows the need to remember not only the shape of the key itself, but also its serial number, which significantly speeds up the search for the desired character in the dictionary. Consideration of individual hieroglyphs in connection with their ancient forms and methods of formation helps not only in memorizing them, but also in identifying connections with other writing signs, which contributes to the development of the language as a whole. The book can be useful for anyone starting to learn Japanese or Chinese..