“The Message”

Firefly–Serenity Chinese Pinyinary
Chinese translations with standard Hanyu Pinyin romanization and Chinese characters for Firefly the TV series and Serenity the movie and comic books

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Chinese Dialog

[Image: logo]

Ni3 gao4su5 na4 niu2 ta1 you3 shuang1 mei3mu4?

Simplified characters: 你告诉那牛它有双美目？ / Traditional characters: 你告訴那牛牠有雙美目？
Back-translation of Mandarin: You tell that cow it has beautiful eyes.
Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): Nee GAO-soo NA niou, TA yo shwong mei-moo?
Translated from script English: Why don't you tell the cow about its beautiful eyes?
Context: “The Message,” Kaylee (off-screen), after Simon compliments her eyes then jokes that she’s the only woman available

ni3 gao4su5

you tell

ni3: you (singular)
gao4su5: to tell, to inform
1. gao4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: to tell, to inform
2. su4 [used only in compound words]: to tell, to inform

na4 niu2

that cow

na4: that, those
niu2: a cow

ta1 you3

it has

ta1: it
you3: to have

shuang1 mei4mu4

beautiful eyes

shuang1: two, a pair
mei3mu4: beautiful eyes
1. mei3: to be beautiful, to be pretty
2. mu4 [used only in compound words]: an eye

damp lung [Not Chinese]

Simplified/Traditional characters: [None]
Back-translation of Mandarin: [Not Chinese]
Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): [Not Chinese]
Script English: the Damplung
Context: “The Message,” Jayne (off-screen), reading aloud letter from mother [Jayne’s brother Matty is sick with it.]

English

damp lung

[name of a lung disease, perhaps tuberculosis (TB)]

Note:

Jayne sounds like “the damp long” instead of the the Damplung of the script. The captions (region 1 DVD) incorrectly say it’s Chinese.

Dong3 ma5?

Simplified characters: 懂吗？ / Traditional characters: 懂嗎？
Back-translation of Mandarin: Understand?
Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): Dong ma?
Translated from script English: Understand?
Context: “The Message,” Womack, to Amnon about keeping quiet

dong3 ma5

understand?

dong3: to understand
ma5: [marker for questions]

See also:

dong3 le5 ma5? (Serenity [novelization])
Dong3 le5 ma5? Ni3 chou2lian3, you3 mei2you3? (Serenity [movie])
dong3 ma5 (“The Train Job,” “Out of Gas,” “Heart of Gold”)

tian1 xiao3de2

Simplified characters: 天晓得 / Traditional characters: 天曉得
Back-translation of Mandarin: Heaven knows!
Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): TYEN shiao-duh
Translated from script English: name of all that's sacred
Context: “The Message,” Mal, invoked to Tracey about what Tracey stole

tian1 xiao3de2

[colloquial] [set phrase] [borrowed from non-Mandarin Chinese] [see note below] God knows!, Heaven knows!

tian1: heaven, God
xiao3de2: [borrowed from non-Mandarin Chinese] [see note below] to know
1. xiao3: to know
2. de2: [ending for one-syllable verbs]

Note:

Native Mandarin term: tian1 zhi1dao5 天知道 : [set phrase] God knows!, Heaven knows!; tian1: heaven, God; zhi1dao5 知道 : to know, to be aware of (zhi1: to know; dao4 a way)

See also:

Ai1ya1. Tian1 a5. (Serenity [movie])
Lao3tian1, bu4. (“Safe”)
Lao3tian1ye2. (“Ariel”)
Tian1sha1 de5 e4mo2. (“Ariel”)
tian1 xiao3de2 (“Bushwhacked,” “Safe”)
Wo3 de5 tian1, a5. (“Bushwhacked”)

xiong1can2 sha1shou3

Simplified characters: 凶残杀手 / Traditional characters: 凶殘殺手
Back-translation of Mandarin: ruthless killer
Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): SHIONG-tsan SHA-sho
Translated from script English: ass-kicking killer
Context: “The Message,” Kaylee, telling Tracey how he makes wartime Zoe sound

xiong1can2

to be ruthless, to be savage

xiong1: to be brutal, to be ferocious
can2 [used only in compound words]: ruthless, ferocious

sha1shou3

a (professional) killer, a hit-man

sha1: to kill
shou3 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: a professional, a person skilled at something

Notes:

Kaylee sounds like “shiong tse sha sho” instead of the SHIONG-tsan SHA-sho of the script.
Thank you to Firefly Chinese translator Jenny Lynn for the script English (and for confirming the Hanyu Pinyin romanization in this entry) before the script was published.

See also:

xiong1meng3 de5 kuang2ren2 (“Objects in Space”)

Wo3 de5 ma1.

Simplified characters: 我的妈。 / Traditional characters: 我的媽。
Back-translation of Mandarin: My God.
Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): Wuo duh MA.
Translated from script English: Mother-of-Jesus.
Context: “The Message,” Wash, reaction to nearby explosions

wo3 de5 ma1

My God!; [literally: My mother!]

wo3 de5: my
1. wo3: I
2. de5: [noun-modifier marker] [here: possessive (genitive), ’s, of]
ma1: [colloquial] a mom, a mother

See also:

Wo3 de5 ma1. (“Bushwhacked”)
Wo3 de5 ma1 he2 ta1 de5 feng1kuang2 de5 wai4sheng5 dou1 (“Our Mrs. Reynolds”)
Wo3 de5 tian1, a5. (“Bushwhacked”)

Cut Chinese Dialog

gou3shi3

Simplified/Traditional characters: 狗屎
Back-translation of Mandarin: crap (worthless thing)
Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): go-se [Taiwan Mandarin pronunciation (FAQ: Variety of Chinese)]
Translated from script English: [(Not in script) crap (from “Safe” script)]
Context: “The Message” [Cut], Womack, referring to Tracey

gou3shi3

[insult] [offensive] crap (a worthless thing); [literally: [offensive] dog dung]

gou3: a dog
shi3: excrement, dung

See also:

gen1 hou2zi5 bi3 diu1 shi3 (“Heart of Gold”)
gou3shi3 (“Shindig,” “Safe” [Cut], “Out of Gas,” Serenity [novelization])
niu2shi3 (“War Stories”)
zheng1qi4 de5 gou3shi3dui1 (“Our Mrs. Reynolds” [Cut])

Visible Chinese

Cha2

Simplified/Traditional characters: 茶
Back-translation of Mandarin: Tea
Context: “The Message,” Visible Chinese, on space station poster to the right of the barker, visible as he says Proof! Of alien life.

cha2

tea

See also:

Cha2 (Serenity [movie])

Yi4sui4

Simplified/Traditional characters: 易碎
Back-translation of Mandarin: Fragile
Context (1): “The Message,” Visible Chinese, on patch with what looks like ZIR COM Navigate on Amnon’s postal uniform, somewhat visible as he meets Mal and gets clipboard
Context (2): “The Message,” Visible Chinese, seen upside-down and incorrectly written mirror-image on two stickers on crate (list of written-Chinese errors), somewhat visible as Mal and Zoe stare at it

yi4sui4

fragile, easily broken

yi4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: easy, easy to, easily
sui4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: to break into pieces

Chou2duan4 Shang1dian4

Simplified characters: 绸缎商店 / Traditional characters: 綢緞商店
Back-translation of Mandarin: Silk-and-Satin Shop
Context: “The Message,” Visible Chinese, posted in space station behind Jayne, visible as he pulls out hat

chou2duan4 shang1dian4

a silk-and-satin shop

chou2duan4: silks and satins
1. chou2 [used only in compound words]: silk
2. duan4 [used only in compound words]: satin
shang1dian4: a store, a shop
1. shang1 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: business, commerce
2. dian4: a shop, a store

Lan2ri4

Simplified characters: 蓝日 / Traditional characters: 藍日
Back-translation of Mandarin: Blue Sun
Translated from the English: Blue Sun [new version (“Blue Sun” translation comparison)]
Context: “The Message,” Visible Chinese, in video ad on outside of space station, just before Womack arrives [also on blocks of stickers in several parts of the space station, but hard to make out]

Lan2ri4

Blue Sun [name of a fictional corporation]

lan2: to be blue (the color)
ri4 [used only in compound words]: [traditional] or [meaning borrowed from non-Mandarin Chinese] the sun

Note:

Also: tai4yang2: 太阳 (traditional: 太陽 ): the sun; tai4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: great, grand; yang2 [used only in compound words]: the sun

See also:

Lan2ri4 (Firefly Official Site, Serenity: Firefly Class 03-K64; Leaves on the Wind)
Lan2ri4; Bing3 Qie3 Diu1; Zhong1 Wu1 Feng1 Zhu3 Wu1 Zha4 Tuo1 Wu1; Wan2 Zhi1 Jiu3; Chuan4 Pie3 Tuo1 Gai4 (Serenity Props and Merchandise)
Lan2ri4; Dan1 Zhi1 Zhong1 Zhu3 Jiu3 Zhong1 Chuan4 Tuo1 Wei2 Tuo1 Gai4; Chuan4 Pie3 Tuo1 Gai4 (Serenity Props and Merchandise)
Qing1ri4 (“Serenity, Part 1,” “Bushwhacked,” “Shindig,” “Ariel”)
Qing1tian2 (Serenity: The Shepherd’s Tale)
Shi4 ni3 de5; Ke3zhen1 ke3zhen1; Lan2ri4 (“The Message”)
Zhe4 ben3 shu1 shi4 yi1 ge5 Qing1ri4 he2zuo4 chu1ban3 (Firefly: The Official Companion, Volume Two)

Shi4 ni3 de5; Ke3zhen1 ke3zhen1; Lan2ri4

Simplified characters: 是你的可 · 真 · 可 · 真蓝日 / Traditional characters: 是你的可 · 真 · 可 · 真藍日
Back-translation of Mandarin: [?Yours, Truly]; Blue Sun
Translated from the English: [Not shown]; Blue Sun [new version of ‘Blue Sun’]
Context: “The Message,” Visible Chinese, in video ad inside space station, behind Womack as he enters; second part flashes down sides; third part appears next in upper left corner of green part

shi4 ni3 de5

is your, is yours

shi4: to be
ni3 de5: your, yours (singular)
1. ni3: you (singular)
2. de5: [noun-modifier marker] [here: possessive (genitive), ’s, of]

ke3zhen1 ke3zhen1

truly

ke3: [marker for emphasis]
zhen1: truly, indeed

Lan2ri4

Blue Sun [name of a fictional corporation]

lan2: to be blue (the color)
ri4 [used only in compound words]: [traditional] or [meaning borrowed from non-Mandarin Chinese] the sun

Note:

Also: tai4yang2: 太阳 (traditional: 太陽 ): the sun; tai4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: great, grand; yang2 [used only in compound words]: the sun

See also:

Lan2ri4 (“The Message,” Firefly Official Site, Serenity: Firefly Class 03-K64; Leaves on the Wind)
Lan2ri4; Bing3 Qie3 Diu1; Zhong1 Wu1 Feng1 Zhu3 Wu1 Zha4 Tuo1 Wu1; Wan2 Zhi1 Jiu3; Chuan4 Pie3 Tuo1 Gai4 (Serenity Props and Merchandise)
Lan2ri4; Dan1 Zhi1 Zhong1 Zhu3 Jiu3 Zhong1 Chuan4 Tuo1 Wei2 Tuo1 Gai4; Chuan4 Pie3 Tuo1 Gai4 (Serenity Props and Merchandise)
Qing1ri4 (“Serenity, Part 1,” “Bushwhacked,” “Shindig,” “Ariel”)
Qing1tian2 (Serenity: The Shepherd’s Tale)
Zhe4 ben3 shu1 shi4 yi1 ge5 Qing1ri4 he2zuo4 chu1ban3 (Firefly: The Official Companion, Volume Two)

Ping2jing4

Simplified characters: 平静 / Traditional characters: 平靜
Back-translation of Mandarin: Tranquil
Translated from the English: Serenity [Firefly version (“Serenity” translation comparison)]
Context: “The Message,” Visible Chinese, in logo on outside of Serenity, visible after Womack starts leaving the space station

ping2jing4

to be quiet (calm), to be tranquil

ping2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: calm, peaceful
jing4: to be calm, to be still

See also:

Jing4 (Serenity [movie])
Jing3wei4; Ping2jing4 (Firefly Props and Merchandise)
Ning2jing4 (Serenity [movie], Serenity [novelization], Serenity comic books, Serenity: The Official Visual Companion, Serenity DVD Official Site)
Ping2 (“Jaynestown”)
Ping2an1 (Serenity Official Site)
Ping2jing4 (“Serenity, Part 1,” “The Train Job,” “Safe,” Firefly Press Kit)

Wei1 Dian4, Fen1

Simplified characters: 危电、氛 / Traditional characters: 危電、氛
Back-translation of Mandarin: Danger Electricity, Vapor
Context: “The Message,” Visible Chinese, on white duct outside Serenity’s cargo bay, visible when River joins Jayne and Book

wei1

[for this meaning, Chinese character doesn’t represent an independent word in Modern Standard Mandarin (Putonghua)] →
wei1xian3 危险 (traditional: 危險 ): danger, to be dangerous

wei1 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: danger, dangerous
xian3: to be dangerous

dian4

electricity, to get an electric shock

fen1

[used only in compound words]: vapor

Note:

Standard warning signs with electricity:
- dang1xin1 chu4dian4 当心触电 (traditional: 當心觸電 ): careful: electric shock; dang1xin1: to be careful, to take care (dang1 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: appropriate [adjective]; xin1: feelings, the mind); chu4dian4: to get an electric shock (chu4: to touch; dian4: to get an electric shock)
- jing3gao4: gao1ya1dian4 警告高压电 (traditional: 警告高壓電 ): warning: high voltage; jing3gao4: a warning (jing3 [used only in compound words]: to warn; gao4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: to report, to notify); gao1ya1dian4: high voltage (gao1ya1: high voltage [gao1: to be high (of level); ya1 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: pressure [noun]]; dian4: electricity, to get an electric shock)
- xiao3xin1you3dian4 小心有电 (traditional: 小心有電 ): careful: electricity; xiao3xin1: to be careful, to take care (xiao3: to be small; xin1: feelings, the mind); you3: to have, there is; dian4: electricity, to get an electric shock
- you3dian4wei1xian3 有电危险 (traditional: 有電危險 ): electric shock risk; you3: to have, there is; dian4: electricity, to get an electric shock; wei1xian3: danger, to be dangerous (wei1 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: danger, dangerous; xian3: to be dangerous)

See also:

Wei1 (“Ariel,” “Trash,” “Objects in Space”)
Wei1 Dian4, Fen1 (“Serenity, Part 1,” “The Train Job,” “Shindig,” “Our Mrs. Reynolds,” “Out of Gas,” “Ariel,” “War Stories,” “Trash”)

Wan2nao4

Simplified characters: 玩闹 / Traditional characters: 玩鬧
Back-translation of Mandarin: Troublemaker
Context: “The Message,” Visible Chinese, on Jayne’s T-shirt (Jayne T-shirt list) with picture of pistol, somewhat visible as River gets on coffin

wan2nao4

[colloquial] a troublemaker, a rascal, to run wild [see note below]

wan2: to play, to have fun
nao4: to make noise, to stir up trouble

Note:

Usual form: wanr2nao4 玩儿闹 (traditional: 玩兒鬧 ): [colloquial] a troublemaker, a rascal, to run wild; wanr2: to play, to toy with (wan2: to play, to have fun; -r: [non-syllabic colloquial suffix] [preceding N is silent: wanr2nao4 means wan2nao4 has become “war2nao4”]); nao4: to make noise, to stir up trouble

See also:

Wan2nao4 (“Jaynestown,” Serenity [movie])

Dong1 Nan2 Xi1 Bei3

Simplified characters: 东南西北 / Traditional characters: 東南西北
Back-translation of Mandarin: East, South, West, North
Context: “The Message,” Visible Chinese, clockwise from top on computerized terrain map of St. Albans in cockpit

dong1

east

nan2

south

xi1

west

bei3

north

Yu2

Simplified/Traditional characters: 臾
Back-translation of Mandarin: [meaningless alone]
Translated from the English: short interval [from Joss Whedon’s “Serenity, Part 1 & 2” DVD commentary]
Context: “The Message,” Visible Chinese, on Inara’s hourglass stand, somewhat visible during magnetic depth-charge bombing

yu2

[Chinese character doesn’t represent an independent word in Modern Standard Mandarin (Putonghua)] →
xu1yu2 须臾 (traditional: 須臾 ): [written] a short moment, in an instant

xu1: a little
yu2 [used only in the compound word xu1yu2]

See also:

Yu2 (“Serenity, Part 1,” “Heart of Gold”)

Lang2

Simplified/Traditional characters: 廊
Back-translation of Mandarin: Corridor
Context: “The Message,” Visible Chinese, on inside of Serenity’s bridge door, visible next to Tracey as he eavesdrops on Book and Mal

lang2

[Chinese character doesn’t represent an independent word in Modern Standard Mandarin (Putonghua)] →
zou3lang2 走廊 : a corridor, a passageway

zou3: to go, to walk
lang2 [used only in compound words]: a corridor

See also:

Lang2 (“Serenity, Part 2”)