Abstract: As key intermediary signs of interaction between the Chinese nation and her existential space for creating culture,the formation and development of the Chinese cultural key words of “he” and “tong” reflect the evolutionary laws of both Chinese culture and Chinese vocabulary,and both have their inner necessity.Originally,as common words,they were pregnant with cultural seeds;later,on their way to key words,they cut across rough and rugged paths;and finally,as key words,they perform multiple functions.

Key words: Chinese cultural key words, he(harmonious,affable,etc.), tong (consistent,adulatory,etc.)