use warnings; my %hash1 = ( bush => "A", tree => "A" ); my %hash2 = ( dog => "A", cat => "A" ); my %hash3 = ( plants => \%hash1, animals => \%hash2 ); my %hash4 = ( plants => \%hash1, animals => \%hash2 ); print "$hash3{plants}{bush}\n"; print "$hash4{plants}{bush}\n"; print "\n"; $hash4{plants}{bush}="B"; print "$hash3{plants}{bush}\n"; print "$hash4{plants}{bush}\n";