diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/shared/actions/transcribeShortcuts.svelte.spec.ts b/frontend/src/lib/shared/actions/transcribeShortcuts.svelte.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..77bf3fb5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/shared/actions/transcribeShortcuts.svelte.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,254 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, afterEach, vi } from 'vitest';
+import type { TranscribeShortcutOptions } from './transcribeShortcuts';
+
+const { transcribeShortcuts } = await import('./transcribeShortcuts');
+
+function makeOptions(
+	overrides: Partial<TranscribeShortcutOptions> = {}
+): TranscribeShortcutOptions {
+	return {
+		isPanelOpen: () => true,
+		isCheatsheetOpen: () => false,
+		panelMode: () => 'edit',
+		goToNextRegion: vi.fn(),
+		goToPrevRegion: vi.fn(),
+		toggleMode: vi.fn(),
+		closePanel: vi.fn(),
+		startDrawMode: vi.fn(),
+		toggleTrainingMark: vi.fn(),
+		deleteCurrentRegion: vi.fn(),
+		openCheatsheet: vi.fn(),
+		...overrides
+	};
+}
+
+describe('transcribeShortcuts action', () => {
+	const nodes: HTMLElement[] = [];
+	const teardowns: Array<() => void> = [];
+
+	function makeNode(): HTMLElement {
+		const node = document.createElement('div');
+		document.body.appendChild(node);
+		nodes.push(node);
+		return node;
+	}
+
+	function attach(options: TranscribeShortcutOptions) {
+		const node = makeNode();
+		const action = transcribeShortcuts(node, options);
+		teardowns.push(() => action.destroy());
+		return action;
+	}
+
+	function press(
+		key: string,
+		opts: { target?: EventTarget; ctrlKey?: boolean; altKey?: boolean; metaKey?: boolean } = {}
+	): KeyboardEvent {
+		const event = new KeyboardEvent('keydown', {
+			key,
+			bubbles: true,
+			cancelable: true,
+			ctrlKey: opts.ctrlKey ?? false,
+			altKey: opts.altKey ?? false,
+			metaKey: opts.metaKey ?? false
+		});
+		(opts.target ?? document).dispatchEvent(event);
+		return event;
+	}
+
+	function makeEditable(tag: 'input' | 'textarea' | 'div'): HTMLElement {
+		const el = document.createElement(tag);
+		if (tag === 'div') el.setAttribute('contenteditable', 'true');
+		document.body.appendChild(el);
+		nodes.push(el);
+		return el;
+	}
+
+	afterEach(() => {
+		teardowns.forEach((t) => t());
+		teardowns.length = 0;
+		nodes.forEach((n) => n.remove());
+		nodes.length = 0;
+	});
+
+	describe('navigation and mode keys', () => {
+		it('fires goToNextRegion on "j" and prevents default', () => {
+			const options = makeOptions();
+			attach(options);
+			const event = press('j');
+			expect(options.goToNextRegion).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+			expect(event.defaultPrevented).toBe(true);
+		});
+
+		it('fires goToPrevRegion on "k"', () => {
+			const options = makeOptions();
+			attach(options);
+			press('k');
+			expect(options.goToPrevRegion).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+		});
+
+		it('fires toggleMode on "e"', () => {
+			const options = makeOptions();
+			attach(options);
+			press('e');
+			expect(options.toggleMode).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+		});
+	});
+
+	describe('panel-open guard', () => {
+		it('does not fire when the panel is closed', () => {
+			const options = makeOptions({ isPanelOpen: () => false });
+			attach(options);
+			press('j');
+			press('e');
+			expect(options.goToNextRegion).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+			expect(options.toggleMode).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+		});
+	});
+
+	describe('focus guard', () => {
+		it('does not fire "j" when focus is inside an <input>', () => {
+			const options = makeOptions();
+			attach(options);
+			press('j', { target: makeEditable('input') });
+			expect(options.goToNextRegion).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+		});
+
+		it('does not fire "j"/"e"/"n"/"t" when focus is inside the TipTap contenteditable', () => {
+			const options = makeOptions();
+			attach(options);
+			const editor = makeEditable('div');
+			press('j', { target: editor });
+			press('e', { target: editor });
+			press('n', { target: editor });
+			press('t', { target: editor });
+			expect(options.goToNextRegion).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+			expect(options.toggleMode).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+			expect(options.startDrawMode).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+			expect(options.toggleTrainingMark).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+		});
+	});
+
+	describe('"?" cheatsheet (focus-independent)', () => {
+		it('opens the cheatsheet on "?"', () => {
+			const options = makeOptions();
+			attach(options);
+			const event = press('?');
+			expect(options.openCheatsheet).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+			expect(event.defaultPrevented).toBe(true);
+		});
+
+		it('opens the cheatsheet even when focus is inside the editor', () => {
+			const options = makeOptions();
+			attach(options);
+			press('?', { target: makeEditable('div') });
+			expect(options.openCheatsheet).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+		});
+
+		it('does nothing when a Ctrl/Alt/Meta modifier is held', () => {
+			const options = makeOptions();
+			attach(options);
+			press('?', { ctrlKey: true });
+			press('?', { altKey: true });
+			press('?', { metaKey: true });
+			expect(options.openCheatsheet).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+		});
+
+		it('is a no-op when the cheatsheet is already open (open-only)', () => {
+			const options = makeOptions({ isCheatsheetOpen: () => true });
+			attach(options);
+			press('?');
+			expect(options.openCheatsheet).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+		});
+
+		it('does not open the cheatsheet when the panel is closed', () => {
+			const options = makeOptions({ isPanelOpen: () => false });
+			attach(options);
+			press('?');
+			expect(options.openCheatsheet).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+		});
+	});
+
+	describe('"n" draw mode (edit only)', () => {
+		it('is a no-op in read mode', () => {
+			const options = makeOptions({ panelMode: () => 'read' });
+			attach(options);
+			press('n');
+			expect(options.startDrawMode).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+		});
+
+		it('fires startDrawMode in edit mode', () => {
+			const options = makeOptions({ panelMode: () => 'edit' });
+			attach(options);
+			press('n');
+			expect(options.startDrawMode).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+		});
+	});
+
+	describe('"t" training mark', () => {
+		it('fires toggleTrainingMark', () => {
+			const options = makeOptions();
+			attach(options);
+			press('t');
+			expect(options.toggleTrainingMark).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+		});
+	});
+
+	describe('"Delete" current region — single owner', () => {
+		it('fires deleteCurrentRegion exactly once when a focused annotation is the target', () => {
+			const options = makeOptions();
+			attach(options);
+			const annotation = document.createElement('div');
+			annotation.setAttribute('data-annotation', '');
+			annotation.setAttribute('tabindex', '0');
+			document.body.appendChild(annotation);
+			nodes.push(annotation);
+			press('Delete', { target: annotation });
+			expect(options.deleteCurrentRegion).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+		});
+	});
+
+	describe('Esc precedence ladder (decision B1)', () => {
+		it('rung 1 — cheatsheet open: closePanel is NOT called (dialog handles Esc)', () => {
+			const options = makeOptions({ isCheatsheetOpen: () => true });
+			attach(options);
+			press('Escape');
+			expect(options.closePanel).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+		});
+
+		it('rung 2 — focus inside editable: no callback fires', () => {
+			const options = makeOptions();
+			attach(options);
+			press('Escape', { target: makeEditable('div') });
+			expect(options.closePanel).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+		});
+
+		it('rung 3 — otherwise: closePanel is called (pins panel-close)', () => {
+			const options = makeOptions();
+			attach(options);
+			const event = press('Escape');
+			expect(options.closePanel).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+			expect(event.defaultPrevented).toBe(true);
+		});
+	});
+
+	describe('lifecycle', () => {
+		it('removes the listener on destroy (no leak)', () => {
+			const options = makeOptions();
+			const action = attach(options);
+			action.destroy();
+			press('j');
+			expect(options.goToNextRegion).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+		});
+
+		it('update() swaps callbacks so the listener never closes over stale state', () => {
+			const first = makeOptions();
+			const action = attach(first);
+			const second = makeOptions();
+			action.update(second);
+			press('j');
+			expect(first.goToNextRegion).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+			expect(second.goToNextRegion).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+		});
+	});
+});
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/shared/actions/transcribeShortcuts.ts b/frontend/src/lib/shared/actions/transcribeShortcuts.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..90806daf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/shared/actions/transcribeShortcuts.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+/**
+ * Keyboard shortcuts for the Transcribe panel power path (issue #327).
+ *
+ * A pure input-to-callback translator: it owns no state and has no
+ * save/persistence responsibility. Panel state and every command are passed in
+ * as callbacks backed by the page's existing context setters, so the listener
+ * never closes over stale `$state`. It is the single owner of the panel's
+ * global `keydown` — including `Esc` (decision B1).
+ */
+export type TranscribeShortcutOptions = {
+	isPanelOpen: () => boolean; // reads transcribeMode ($state)
+	isCheatsheetOpen: () => boolean; // Esc ladder rung 1 + "?" open-only guard
+	panelMode: () => 'read' | 'edit'; // for the n-only-in-edit guard
+	goToNextRegion: () => void; // j
+	goToPrevRegion: () => void; // k
+	toggleMode: () => void; // e
+	closePanel: () => void; // Esc ladder rung 3
+	startDrawMode: () => void; // n (edit mode only)
+	toggleTrainingMark: () => void; // t (no-op when no active block)
+	deleteCurrentRegion: () => void; // Delete (confirm modal)
+	openCheatsheet: () => void; // ?
+};
+
+function isEditableTarget(target: EventTarget | null): boolean {
+	if (!(target instanceof HTMLElement)) return false;
+	const tag = target.tagName;
+	return tag === 'INPUT' || tag === 'TEXTAREA' || target.isContentEditable;
+}
+
+export function transcribeShortcuts(_node: HTMLElement, initial: TranscribeShortcutOptions) {
+	let options = initial;
+
+	function handleKeydown(event: KeyboardEvent) {
+		// "?" is focus-independent: it fires regardless of the focus guard, but
+		// only with no Ctrl/Alt/Meta (Shift is allowed — "?" is Shift+ß on QWERTZ).
+		if (event.key === '?' && !event.ctrlKey && !event.altKey && !event.metaKey) {
+			if (!options.isPanelOpen()) return;
+			event.preventDefault();
+			if (!options.isCheatsheetOpen()) options.openCheatsheet();
+			return;
+		}
+
+		if (!options.isPanelOpen()) return;
+
+		// Esc precedence ladder (decision B1) — top rung wins.
+		if (event.key === 'Escape') {
+			if (options.isCheatsheetOpen()) return; // rung 1: the <dialog> closes itself
+			if (isEditableTarget(event.target)) return; // rung 2: let TipTap handle its Esc
+			event.preventDefault(); // rung 3: close the panel
+			options.closePanel();
+			return;
+		}
+
+		// Every remaining shortcut is inactive while focus is inside an editable.
+		if (isEditableTarget(event.target)) return;
+
+		switch (event.key) {
+			case 'j':
+				event.preventDefault();
+				options.goToNextRegion();
+				break;
+			case 'k':
+				event.preventDefault();
+				options.goToPrevRegion();
+				break;
+			case 'e':
+				event.preventDefault();
+				options.toggleMode();
+				break;
+			case 'n':
+				if (options.panelMode() !== 'edit') return; // silent no-op in read mode
+				event.preventDefault();
+				options.startDrawMode();
+				break;
+			case 't':
+				event.preventDefault();
+				options.toggleTrainingMark();
+				break;
+			case 'Delete':
+				event.preventDefault();
+				options.deleteCurrentRegion();
+				break;
+		}
+	}
+
+	window.addEventListener('keydown', handleKeydown);
+
+	return {
+		update(next: TranscribeShortcutOptions) {
+			options = next;
+		},
+		destroy() {
+			window.removeEventListener('keydown', handleKeydown);
+		}
+	};
+}