Serenity Comics

Serenity: Those Left Behind

Chinese Dialog

• yi1 da4 tuo2 da4bian4
• “一大坨大便”
• ee da tuo da bien
• a big lump of crap
• Jayne (#1, p. 3), sarcastically to Mal on what the situation is

• yi1 da4 tuo2: a big lump of; yi1 [shifts to yi2 before a 4th-tone syllable] one, a; da4 big; tuo2 a lump
• da4bian4: human excrement, stool; da4 big; bian4 excrement

• Hun2dan4!
• “浑蛋！” [ Traditional: 渾蛋！ ]
• Hwoon dahn!
• Bastards!
• Ott's female crew-member (#1, p. 7), referring to Mal and probably to Jayne and Zoe as well

• hun2dan4: [derogatory] bastard, rogue; hun2 stupid; dan4 word used in insults, [literally] egg

See also:

• "Serenity, Part 2"
• "Bushwhacked"
• "Our Mrs. Reynolds"

Related Expression(s):

• ge5 zhen1 de5 hun2dan4! ("Jaynestown")
• Ta1ma1 de5 hun2dan4. ("War Stories")

• yao1nü3
• “妖女”
• yao noo
• gorgon
• Jayne (#1, p. 7), to Mal, referring to Ott's female crew-member

• yao1nü3: fairy enchantress [possibly used as abbreviation of 妖女飾・妖女饰 yao1nü3shi4: repulsive woman, gorgon; shi4 decoration, adorn]; yao1 bewitching, lewd, demon; nü3 woman
• Yao1nü3 is used for the Succubus character (a demon that takes human-female form to have sex with men while the men sleep) on a few Chinese gaming websites.

• Zhu3 a5, ni3 ming2ming2 zhi1dao5 wo3 shi4 bang1 ni3 zuo4shi4, you4 he2 bi4 zhao3 wo3 ma2fan5 ne5?
• “主阿，你明明知道我是帮你做事，又何必找我麻烦呢？” [ Traditional: 主阿，你明明知道我是幫你做事，又何必找我麻煩呢？ ]
• Joo ah, nee ming ming jee dao wuh shr bang nee tzwo shr, yo huh bee jao wuh ma fan nuh?
• {Oh Lord, You are obviously aware that I assist You in doing Your work; oh why must there be such trouble for me?}
• Book (#1, p. 9), addressing God after everyone leaves church

• Zhu3 a5: Oh Lord; zhu3 God; a5 marker of direct address
• ni3 ming2ming2 zhi1dao5: you obviously are aware; ni3 you; ming2ming2 clearly, obviously (ming2 clear); zhi1dao5 know, be aware of (zhi1 know; dao4 path)
• wo3 shi4 bang1: it is I that assists; wo3 I; shi4 puts focus on wo3, [literally] be; bang1 to help, assist
• ni3 zuo4shi4: you work; ni3 you [singular]; zuo4shi4 to work (zuo4 do, make; shi4 matters, business)
• you4 he2 bi4: oh why must; you4 for emphasis in rhetorical question; he2 why?; bi4 must
• zhao3 wo3 ma2fan5: cause me trouble, pick on me; zhao3 ma2fan5 cause someone trouble, pick on someone (zhao3 invite, ask for; ma2fan5 trouble, to trouble (ma2 pockmarked, [literally] hemp; fan2 troubled, to trouble someone); wo3 me [indirect object]
• ne5: marker for questions [about something already mentioned or for emphasis]

• Kao4!
• “靠！”
• Kao!
• Goddammit!
• Mal (#1, p. 10), after Ott and Ott's crew escape

• kao4: goddamn [phonetic use, [literally] to get near, rely on]
• Phonetic replacement for 操 cao4: [vulgar] to f***.
• According to Akizuki Kumiko's [Chinese-Japanese Dictionary of Contemporary Vocabulary], Beijing-dialect speakers can use Kao4! (Goddamn!) for Cao4! (F***!) without the sexual connotation/dirtiness of Cao4! (which seems like English's similar-sound replacements Fudge! or Shoot!). See also Don's comment on KernelM's Serenity #1 translations (which got me to dig deeper into this).

See also:

• Serenity: Those Left Behind #2

• Kan4 wo3men5 zen3me5 si3 ba5!
• “看我们怎么死吧！” [ Traditional: 看我們怎麼死吧！ ]
• Kan wuh-mun tzun muh suh bah!
• {Let's watch how we die!}
• Wash (#1, p. 17), as prepares to topple water tower

• kan4: see, watch
• wo3men5 zen3me5 si3: how we die; wo3men5 we (wo3 I; men5 plural marker); zen3me5 how, why (zen3 how, why; me5 question marker); si3 to die
• ba5: mild-exclamation marker, let's

• shen2me5 gong1zuo4 dou1 mei2you3
• “什么工作都没有” [ Traditional: 什麼工作都沒有 ]
• shuh-muh gong tzwo do may yo
• without-any-work
• Mal (#2, p. 14), to Inara describing remoteness of location

• shen2me5 X dou1: any X; shen2me5 something, anything (shen2 what?; me5 question marker); dou1 all
• gong1zuo4: job, work; gong1 work; zuo4 make, do
• mei2you3: not have, be without, there is not; mei2 negative verb-prefix; you3 have, there is
• Also shen2me5?: what?

• kao4
• “靠”
• kao
• goddamn
• Mal (#2, p. 15), to Book referring to a tough situation

• kao4: goddamn [phonetic use of character, [literally] to get near, rely on]
• Phonetic replacement for more vulgar 操 cao4: [vulgar] to f***.

See also:

• Serenity: Those Left Behind #1

• Guai1guai1 long2 de5 dong1!
• “乖乖隆的东！” [ Traditional: 乖乖隆的東！ ]
• Gwai-gwai long duh dong!
• {What the hell!}
• Wash (#2, p. 19), on seeing the graveyard of spaceships

• guai1guai1 long2 de5 dong1: idiomatic exclamation for surprise; guai1guai1 [colloquial] obedient, well-behaved, my darling [child] (guai1 well-behaved); long2 de5 glorious, abundant, prosperous; dong1 east
• According to some Chinese websites, the identically pronounced 乖乖隆地冬 is a common expression in Nanjing, China (de5 adverb marker; dong1 winter).
• Also guai1guai5: my darling [child]; Guai1guai5!: Good gracious!

• bu4yao4 ming4 de5 su4du4
• “不要命的速度”
• boo yao ming duh soo doo
• life-risking speed
• Wash (#3, p. 14), to Mal about the ship's speed

• bu4yao4 ming4 de5: life-risking, fearless; bu4yao4 not want (bu4 [shifts to bu2 before a 4th-tone syllable] not; yao4 to want); ming4 life; de5 relative clause marker
• su4du4: speed, velocity; su4 speed, velocity; du4 suffix making abstract nouns, -ness, -ity
• Wash's use of the English word speed after su4du4 seems redundant.

• wo3 zai4 qian2shi4 yi1ding4 re3dao4 shen2me5 ren2 le5 ba5 . . .
• “我在前世一定惹到什么人了吧……” [ Traditional: 我在前世一定惹到什麼人了吧…… ]
• wuh tzai chien shr ee-ding ruh dao shuh-muh run luh bah . . .
• I surely annoyed someone or other in a past life, didn't I . . .
• Mal (#3, p. 16), on seeing Blue Glove ship

• wo3 zai4 qian2shi4: I was in a past life; wo3 I; zai4 be in, live; qian2shi4 a past life
• yi1ding4: surely, certainly; yi1 [shifts to yi2 before a 4th-tone syllable] a, one; ding4 definite, certainly
• re3dao4: annoyed; re3 annoy, provoke; dao4 completion marker
• shen2me5 ren2: someone or other; shen2me5 some or other (shen2 what?; me5 question marker); ren2 person
• le5: completion marker
• ba5: tag-question marker
• Also shen2me5?: what?

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Visible Chinese

• 宁静
• [ Traditional: 寧靜 ]
• Ning2jing4
• "Serenity"
• #1 – 3, front cover, in logo

• ning2jing4: tranquil, peaceful; ning2 tranquil, peaceful; jing4 calm, still

See also:

• Serenity Movie

Related Expression(s):

• An1ning2 (Serenity Movie)
• Jing4 (Serenity Movie)
• Jing3wei4; Ping2jing4 (Firefly Elsewhere: Cast and Crew Stuff)
• Ping2jing4 ("Serenity, Part 1," "The Train Job," "Safe," "The Message," Firefly Elsewhere: Press Kit)

• 帶勁
• [ Simplified: 带劲 ]
• dai4jin4
• spirited
• 1. #1 – 3, front cover, behind credits
• 2. #1 – 2, back matter, with "Transmissions from the Cortex"

• dai4jin4: spirited, energetic; dai4 bring, take; jin4 [colloquial] vigor, energy, strength

• 礼 義 勇 仁 ・ 志 義
• [ Simplified: 礼 义 勇 仁 ・ 志 义; 礼 is also abbreviated form of traditional 禮; last two characters near mouth]
• li3 yi4 yong3 ren2; zhi4 yi4
• propriety, righteousness, courageous, benevolence; ambition, propriety
• #1, p. 3, Ott's face and neck tattoos

• li3: propriety, courtesy
• yi4: righteousness, justice [li3yi4 propriety and righteousness, propriety and justice]
• yong3 : brave, courageous [yi4yong3 righteous and courageous]
• ren2: [written] benevolence; compassionate
• zhi4: ambition, aspiration

• 義 勇 真 礼
• [ Simplified: 义 勇 真 礼; 礼 is also abbreviated form of traditional 禮 ]
• yi4 yong3 zhen1 li3
• righteousness, courageous, true, propriety
• #1, p. 4, Ott's face tattoos

• yi4: righteousness, justice
• yong3 : brave, courageous [yi4yong3 righteous and courageous]
• zhen1: true
• li3: propriety, courtesy

• 真仁
• zhen1 ren2
• true benevolence
• #3, p. 20, on wall hanging in Mal's quarters

• zhen1: true
• ren2: [written] benevolence; compassionate

• 结尾
• [ Traditional: 結尾 ]
• jie2wei3
• ending
• #3, p. 22 with "Those Left Behind"

• jie2wei3: ending, end; jie2 conclude, settle; wei3 conclusion

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Serenity: Better Days

Chinese Dialog

• You4chou4you4ying4.
• “又臭又硬。”
• Yo cho yo ying.
• Stubborn.
• Jayne (#1, p. 7), as Security Drone starts shooting at him

• you4chou4you4ying4: stubborn, hard-nosed; you4 X you4 Y both X and Y; chou4 stinking; ying4 stubborn

• fei4tie3
• “廢鐵” [ Simplified: 废铁 ]
• fay tyeh
• scrap iron
• Jayne [off-screen] (#1, p. 9), referring to Security Drone

• fei4tie3: scrap iron; fei4 useless, to abandon; tie3 iron

• Bi4zui3!
• “閉嘴！” [ Simplified: 闭嘴！ ]
• Bizui!
• Shut up!
• Jayne (#1, p. 10), to Simon

• bi4zui3: [slang] Shut up!; bi4 shut, close; zui3 beak, snout, mouth

See also:

• "Serenity, Part 1"
• Serenity: Better Days #2 [below]

Related Expression(s):

• Bi4zui3 nin2 hen3 bu4ti3tie1 de5 nan2sheng1! ("Objects in Space")
• Bi4zui3. Rong2 wo3men5 fa1cai2. (Serenity Movie)
• Ni3men5 dou1 bi4zui3! ("Serenity, Part 2")

• xiao3mei4mei4
• “小妹妹”
• xiao meimei
• little sister
• Wash (#1, p. 19), referrring to Kaylee

• xiao3mei4mei4: younger sister, young girl; xiao3 small, junior; mei4mei5 little sister, younger sister (mei4 little sister, younger sister) [second mei4 retains 4th tone in xiao3mei4mei4]

See also:

• "Serenity, Part 2"
• Serenity: Better Days #2 [below]

Related Expression(s):

• mei4mei5 ("Serenity, Part 1," "Safe," "Our Mrs. Reynolds," "Ariel," "War Stories," "Heart of Gold")
• Zhu4fu2 ni3, mei4mei5. ("Heart of Gold")

• xiao3mei4mei4 [AGAIN]
• “小妹妹”
• xiao meimei
• little sister
• Simon (#2, p. 11), referrring to River

• xiao3mei4mei4: younger sister, young girl; xiao3 small, junior; mei4mei5 little sister, younger sister (mei4 little sister, younger sister) [second mei4 retains 4th tone in xiao3mei4mei4]

See also:

• "Serenity, Part 2"
• Serenity: Better Days #1 [above]

Related Expression(s):

• mei4mei5 ("Serenity, Part 1," "Safe," "Our Mrs. Reynolds," "Ariel," "War Stories," "Heart of Gold")
• Zhu4fu2 ni3, mei4mei5. ("Heart of Gold")

• bi4zui3! [AGAIN]
• “閉嘴！” [ Simplified: 闭嘴！ ]
• bizui!
• shut up!
• Robber (#2, p. 17), to restaurant patrons

• bi4zui3: [slang] Shut up!; bi4 shut, close; zui3 beak, snout, mouth

See also:

• "Serenity, Part 1"
• Serenity: Better Days #1 [above]

Related Expression(s):

• Bi4zui3 nin2 hen3 bu4ti3tie1 de5 nan2sheng1! ("Objects in Space")
• Bi4zui3. Rong2 wo3men5 fa1cai2. (Serenity Movie)
• Ni3men5 dou1 bi4zui3! ("Serenity, Part 2")

• shen2jing1bing4
• “神經病” [ Simplified: 神经病 ]
• shen jing bing
• insanity
• Wash (#3, p. 4), referring to Zoe's plan

• shen2jing1bing4: insanity, mental illness, [colloquial] crazy person; shen2jing1 a nerve, neuro-, nervous [system, etc.] (shen2 a nerve; jing1 channels); bing4 illness, disease
• Also Shen2jing1bing4!: [fixed expression] (You're) crazy!

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Visible Chinese

• 密碼正確
• [ Simplified: 密码正确 ]
• Mi4ma3 Zheng4que4
• "Security Key Accepted" [from script at Dark Horse Comics]
• #1, p. 4, on readout of Zoe's garage-door opener

• mi4ma3: secret code; mi4 secret; ma3 code
• zheng4que4: right, correct; zheng4 correct; que4 authentic, accurate

• 自動導航
• [ Simplified: 自动导航 ]
• Zi4dong4 Dao3hang2
• Autopilot
• #1, p. 8, on readout above switch

• zi4dong4: automatic; zi4 self-; dong4 move
• dao3hang2: guided navigation; dao3 to guide; hang2 navigate

• 仏教
• [ JAPANESE ]
• Bukkyou
• Buddhism
• #1, p. 20, on wall-hanging in temple

• [JAPANESE]
• Bukkyou: Buddhism [Mandarin form 佛教 Fo2jiao4]; Butsu Buddha; kyou religion

• 発見
• [ JAPANESE ]
• Hakken
• Discover
• #1, p. 21, on wall-hanging in temple as monk enters

• [JAPANESE]
• Hakken: discover, discovery [Mandarin form 發見・发见 fa1xian4 discover, discovery, appear]; hatsu give forth [Mandarin fa1 discover]; ken see [Mandarin xian4 appear, see]

• 同盟
• Tong2meng2
• Alliance
• #2 – 3, front cover, in logo on money sacks

• tong2meng2: alliance; tong2 together; meng2 alliance

See also:

• "Serenity, Part 1"
• "The Train Job"
• "Bushwhacked"
• "Safe"
• Firefly Elsewhere: Firefly: The Official Companion - Volume One
• Firefly Elsewhere: Press Kit

Related Expression(s):

• Jing3bao4; Dai4bu3zheng4; Tong2meng2 ("Objects in Space")
• Tong2meng2 Gong1gong4 Cai2chan3 (Firefly Elsewhere: Press Kit)

• 钱・安分守己
• [ Traditional: 錢・安分守己 ]
• Qian2; An1fen4shou3ji3
• Money; Law-abiding
• #3, front cover, on money sacks

• qian2: money, cash
• an1fen4shou3ji3: law-abiding, dutiful; an1fen4 law-abiding (an1 to harbor; fen4 duty); shou3 maintain [some noble quality], abide by; ji3 oneself
• Also 守己安分 shou3ji3an1fen4

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