"Shindig" to "Jaynestown"

"Shindig"

Chinese Dialog

• Wei4!
• 喂！・喂！
• "Way!" [subtitles: wrongly "Wait!"]
• "Hey!"
• Wright the slaver, reaction to pool-ball failure

• wei4: Hey!
• Also hello on the telephone

See also:

• "Shindig" [below]

• Wei4! [AGAIN]
• 喂！・喂！
• "Way!" [subtitles: wrongly "Wait!"]
• "Hey!"
• Wright the slaver, reaction to Mal's pickpocketing of him

• wei4: Hey!
• Also hello on the telephone

See also:

• "Shindig" [above]

• bao3bei4
• 寶貝・宝贝
• "bao bay." [subtitles: "baobei"]
• "sweetheart."
• Atherton Wing, addressing Inara on Cortex

• bao3bei4: darling, sweetheart; bao3 precious; bei4 cowrie [shell once used as money]

• wen2guo5 pi4
• 聞過屁・闻过屁
• "wun gwo pee" [Badger sounds like wun gwa pee.]
• "smelled a fart"
• Badger, referring to what Sir Warrick acts like he's never done

• wen2guo5 pi4: smelled a fart; wen2 to smell [something]; guo5 completed-action marker; pi4 a fart

• pi4gu5
• 屁股・屁股
• "pee-goo" [subtitles: "pigu"]
• "bottom"
• Badger, referring to the presence of sticks up Mal's and Sir Harrow's

• pi4gu5: butt, backside; pi4 butt, backside; gu3 thigh

Related Expression(s):

• fei4fei4 de5 pi4yan3 ("Objects in Space")
• hou2zi5 de5 pi4gu5! ("Trash")
• Tai4kong1 suo3you3 de5 xing1qiu2 sai1jin4 wo3 de5 pi4gu5 ("War Stories")
• Ti1 wo3 de5 pi4gu5. ("Shindig")

• Lao3peng2you5, ni3 kan4 qi5lai5 hen3 you3 jing1shen5.
• 老朋友，你看起來很有精神。・老朋友，你看起来很有精神。
• "Lao pung yo, nee can chi lai hun yo jing shen."
• "You're looking wonderful, old friend."
• Inara, to elderly man at ball

• lao3peng2you5: old friend; lao3 old; peng2you5 friend (peng2 friend; you3 friend)
• ni3 kan4 qi5lai5 hen3 you3 jing1shen5: you look full of energy; ni3 you [singular]; kan4 qi5lai5 look as if, when seen (kan4 to look, see; qi3lai5 verb suffix meaning: when it happens/continuing an action [qi3 begin; lai2 come]); hen3 very, much; you3 have, there is; jing1shen5 vigor, vitality (jing1 energy, spirit; shen2 energy, vitality)
• Also 精神・精神 jing1shen2: mind, spirit; jing1 energy, spirit; shen2 mind, spirit

• gou3shi3
• 狗屎・狗屎
• "gos se" [Atherton sounds like go-suh; subtitles: "go-se"]
• "crap"
• Atherton Wing, referring to Serenity

• gou3shi3: [derogatory] worthless thing, [literally] dog excrement; gou3 dog; shi3 [Taiwan si3] excrement, dung
• Thanks to Firefly Chinese Translator Jenny Lynn for the si3 form and Taiwan origin.

See also:

• "Shindig" [below]
• "Safe"
• "Out of Gas"
• "The Message"
• Serenity Novelization

Related Expression(s):

• gen1 hou2zi5 bi3 diu1shi3 ("Heart of Gold")
• gou3 cao4 de5 ("The Train Job")
• niu2shi3 ("War Stories")
• zheng1qi4 de5 gou3shi3 dui1 ("Our Mrs. Reynolds")

• gou3shi3 [AGAIN]
• 狗屎・狗屎
• "gos se" [Atherton sounds like go-suh; subtitles: "go-se"]
• "crap"
• Atherton Wing, repeating due to surprise at Inara's criticism of his language

• gou3shi3: [derogatory] worthless thing, [literally] dog excrement; gou3 dog; shi3 [Taiwan si3] excrement, dung
• Thanks to Firefly Chinese Translator Jenny Lynn for the si3 form and Taiwan origin.

See also:

• "Shindig" [above, below]
• "Safe"
• "Out of Gas"
• "The Message"
• Serenity Novelization

Related Expression(s):

• gen1 hou2zi5 bi3 diu1shi3 ("Heart of Gold")
• gou3 cao4 de5 ("The Train Job")
• niu2shi3 ("War Stories")
• zheng1qi4 de5 gou3shi3 dui1 ("Our Mrs. Reynolds")

• gou3shi3 [AGAIN]
• 狗屎・狗屎
• "gos se" [Atherton sounds like go-suh; subtitles: "go-se"]
• "crap"
• Atherton Wing, affirming the validity of his description of Serenity

• gou3shi3: [derogatory] worthless thing, [literally] dog excrement; gou3 dog; shi3 [Taiwan si3] excrement, dung
• Thanks to Firefly Chinese Translator Jenny Lynn for the si3 form and Taiwan origin.

See also:

• "Shindig" [above, below]
• "Safe"
• "Out of Gas"
• "The Message"
• Serenity Novelization

Related Expression(s):

• gen1 hou2zi5 bi3 diu1shi3 ("Heart of Gold")
• gou3 cao4 de5 ("The Train Job")
• niu2shi3 ("War Stories")
• zheng1qi4 de5 gou3shi3 dui1 ("Our Mrs. Reynolds")

• gou3shi3 [AGAIN]
• 狗屎・狗屎
• "gos se" [Inara sounds like go-suh; subtitles: "go-se"]
• "crap"
• Inara, on seeing Mal at the ball

• gou3shi3: [derogatory] worthless thing, [literally] dog excrement; gou3 dog; shi3 [Taiwan si3] excrement, dung
• Thanks to Firefly Chinese Translator Jenny Lynn for the si3 form and Taiwan origin.

See also:

• "Shindig" [above]
• "Safe"
• "Out of Gas"
• "The Message"
• Serenity Novelization

Related Expression(s):

• gen1 hou2zi5 bi3 diu1shi3 ("Heart of Gold")
• gou3 cao4 de5 ("The Train Job")
• niu2shi3 ("War Stories")
• zheng1qi4 de5 gou3shi3 dui1 ("Our Mrs. Reynolds")

• Xie4xie5
• 謝謝・谢谢
• "Sheh-sheh" [subtitles: "Xie-xie"]
• "Thank you"
• Kaylee, to Mal for permission to visit the buffet table

• xie4xie5: thank you, thanks; xie4 thank

• Shen2me5?
• 什麼？・什么？
• "Shuh muh?" [Kaylee sounds like Shuh moo; subtitles: "Shu muh?"]
• "What?"
• Kaylee, response to Banning Miller's comment at the ball

• shen2me5: what?; shen2 [Taiwan she2] what?; me5 question marker
• Also shen2me5: something, anything

See also:

• "Serenity, Part 2"
• Serenity Movie

Related Expression(s):

• Zhe4 shi4 shen2me5 lan4 dong1xi5!? ("Jaynestown")

• Cai2 bu4 shi4.
• 纔不是。・才不是。
• "Tsai boo shr."
• "No way."
• Kaylee, refuting the 80-04's quality

• cai2 bu4 shi4: [literally] actually [it] isn't; cai2 actually; bu4 shi4 not be, No! (bu4 [shifts to bu2 before a 4th-tone syllable] not; shi4 be)

• yu2ben4 de5
• 愚笨的・愚笨的
• "yu bun duh"
• "stupid"
• Mal, referring to duel

• yu2ben4 de5: stupid, foolish, silly; yu2 stupid, foolish; ben4 stupid, clumsy; de5 adjective marker

Related Expression(s):

• Ben4 tian1sheng1 de5 yi1 dui1 rou4. ("Trash")
• Liu2 kou3shui3 de5 biao3zi5 he2 hou2zi5 de5 ben4 er2zi5. ("Safe")

Cut Chinese Dialog

• Ti1 wo3 de5 pi4gu5. [CUT]
• 踢我的屁股。・踢我的屁股。
• "Tee wuh duh pee-goo."
• "Kick me in the bottom."
• Mal, after he upsets Kaylee about dress

• ti1: to kick
• wo3 de5: my; wo3 I; de5 possessive marker
• pi4gu5: butt, backside; pi4 butt, backside; gu3 thigh

Related Expression(s):

• fei4fei4 de5 pi4yan3 ("Objects in Space")
• hou2zi5 de5 pi4gu5! ("Trash")
• pi4gu5 ("Shindig")
• Tai4kong1 suo3you3 de5 xing1qiu2 sai1jin4 wo3 de5 pi4gu5 ("War Stories")

• Wa1! [CUT]
• 哇！・哇！
• "Wah!"
• "Wow!"
• Mal, reaction to hearing about Atherton's non-marriage proposal to Inara

• wa1: Wah!, exclamation of surprise

Top | Chinese by Story | Chinese Dialog by Phrase | Main Page

Visible Chinese

• 如果台球坏了，那么管理就不负责的.
• [ Traditional: 如果檯球壞了，那麼管理就不負責的. ]
• Ru2guo3 tai2qiu2 huai4le5, na4me5 guan3li3 jiu4 bu4 fu4ze2 de5.
• "Management Not Responsible for Ball Failure"
• on bar sign in opening

• ru2guo3 tai2qiu2 huai4le5: if a billiard ball becomes ruined; ru2guo3 if (ru2 if; guo3 if, [literally] fruit); tai2qiu2 billiard ball (tai2 table; qiu2 ball); huai4le5 ruined (huai4 to ruin; le5 change-indicating marker)
• na4me5 guan3li3 jiu4 bu4 fu4ze2 de5: then management is definitely not responsible; na4me5 then, in that case; guan3li3 management (guan3 supervise; li3 manage); jiu4 emphatic marker; bu4 [shifts to bu2 before 4th-tone word but not when it also follows a 4th-tone word] not; fu4ze2 be responsible for (fu4 to bear; ze2 responsibility); de5 assertion marker

• 进来信息
• [ Traditional: 進來信息 ]
• Jin4lai5 Xin4xi1
• Incoming Message
• on Inara's Cortex screen, somewhat visible to right of picture of first potential client as it enlarges and shrinks

• jin4lai5: come in, enter; jin4 come in, enter; lai2 come
• xin4xi1: news, message; xin4 message; xi1 news

• 冬虫夏草
• [ abbreviated handwritten style; written bottom to top; Traditional: 冬蟲夏草 ]
• Dong1chong2-xia4cao3
• Chinese caterpillar fungus
• on yellow vertical pennant as crew arrives on Persephone

• dong1chong2-xia4cao3: Chinese caterpillar fungus [Cordyceps sinensis, expensive Traditional Chinese Medicine product]; dong1 winter; chong2 insect, worm; xia4 summer; cao3 grass
• The Chinese name of this Tibetan and Chinese medicine comes from the fungus's life cycle. In winter [dong1] the fungus parasitically spawns in the body of a buried insect [chong2] larva's body. Then in summer [xia4] the edible grass [cao3]-like part of the fungus shows up. More [provided for information purposes only]: Down to Earth

• 优美
• [ Traditional: 優美 ]
• You1mei3
• Elegant
• on window of store to right of one with green dress, somewhat visible as camera whip pans to the latter [below]

• you1mei3: elegant, beautiful [style]; you1 excellent, superior; mei3 beautiful, superior

• 讲究的服装
• [ down, right, then down; Traditional: 講究的服裝 ]
• Jiang3jiu5 de5 Fu2zhuang1
• Stylish Clothing
• on window of store with green dress

• jiang3jiu5 de5: stylish, chic, tasteful; jiang3 speak; jiu4 investigate; de5 adjective marker
• fu2zhuang1: clothing, attire; fu2 clothing; zhuang1 clothing

• 礼服
• [ Traditional: 禮服 ]
• Li3fu2
• Formal Attire
• on window of store with Kaylee's pink dress

• li3fu2: formal dress, ceremonial dress; li3 ceremony, rite; fu2 clothing

• 勇
• Yong3
• "Soldier" [from costume designer Shawna Trpcic's "Shindig" commentary]
• on Jayne's T-shirt, visible in front of the dress store as Kaylee talks

• yong3: brave, soldier

See also:

• "The Train Job"
• "Ariel"
• "War Stories"
• Firefly Elsewhere: Firefly: The Official Companion - Volume One

• 酒吧 和 烧烤店
• [ jiu3ba1 partially obscured; down, left, then down; Traditional: 酒吧 和 燒烤店 ]
• Jiu3ba1 he2 Shao1kao3 Dian4
• Bar & Grill
• on window left of Kaylee and behind Zoe as Mal insults Kaylee

• jiu3ba1 he2 shao1kao3 dian4: bar & grill; jiu3ba1 bar (jiu3 liquor; ba1 phonetic character for loanword: bar, [literally] "snap" sound); he2 and; shao1kao3 to grill, barbecue (shao1 to burn, to cook; kao3 to roast, to toast, to grill); dian4 shop, store

Related Expression(s):

• Jiu3ba1 ("The Train Job," Firefly Elsewhere: DVD Official Site)

• 游览车
• [ first character in red oval; Traditional: 遊覽車 ]
• You2lan3che1
• Tour Bus
• on bus behind Mal as he insults Kaylee outside dress shop, visible as Zoe walks off

• you2lan3che1: tour bus; you2lan3 sight-seeing, to tour (you2 to play; lan3 to sightsee, watch); che1 vehicle

• 宮本五貞樂
• [ PROBABLY JAPANESE; Modern Japanese: ; Simplified Chinese: 宫本五贞乐 ]
• Miyamoto Goteiraku [restaurant name]
• Miyamoto Five Virtuous Pleasures
• on restaurant's red polka-triangle vertical banner, visible as Badger appears for first time

• [JAPANESE]
• Miyamoto: Japanese family name; [literally] miya [Mandarin gong1] palace; moto [Mand. ben3] root, origin
• Goteiraku: [literally] five virtuous pleasures; go [Mand. wu3] five; tei [Mand. zhen1 faithful, chastity] virtue, chastity, fidelity; raku [Mand. 樂・乐 le4 happy, enjoyment, pleasure] comfortable, pleasure

• 有营养的食品
• [ Traditional: 有營養的食品 ]
• You3 Ying2yang3 de5 Shi2pin3
• Nutritious Food
• on "Peach Halves" cans, the first attacked by River

• you3 ying2yang3 de5: nutritious; you3 have, there is; ying2yang3 nutrition, nourishment (ying2 nourish; yang3 nourishment); de5 relative clause marker
• shi2pin3: food, foodstuffs; shi2 food; pin3 product, commodity

• 靑日
• [ seen upside-down, seen sideways; 靑 is old-fashioned form of Traditional/Simplified 青 ]
• Qing1 Ri4
• "Blue Sun" [old]
• on boxes of cracker packets that River attacks

• qing1: green, blue
• ri4: day, [regional and old-fashioned use] sun

See also:

• "Serenity, Part 1"
• "Bushwhacked"
• "Ariel"

Related Expression(s):

• Lan2 Ri4 ("The Message," Firefly Elsewhere: Series Former Official Site)
• Shi4 ni3 de5; Ke3zhen1 ke3zhen1; Lan2 Ri4 ("The Message")

• 危 電・氛
• [ Simplified: 危 电・氛 ]
• Wei1 Dian4; Fen1
• Danger Electricity; Vapor
• on white duct outside Serenity's cargo bay, visible when River enters

• wei1: danger
• dian4: electricity, electric
• fen1: vapor

See also:

• "Serenity, Part 1"
• "The Train Job"
• "Our Mrs. Reynolds"
• "Out of Gas"
• "Ariel"
• "War Stories"
• "Trash"
• "The Message"

Related Expression(s):

• Wei1 ("Ariel," "Trash," "Objects in Space")

Top | Chinese by Story | Chinese Dialog by Phrase | Main Page

"Safe"

Chinese Dialog

• Jian4 ta1 de5 gui3!
• 見他的鬼！・见他的鬼！
• "Jien tah-duh guay!"
• "Like hell!"
• Young Simon, about play-Independents using dinosaurs in battle

• jian4 ta1 de5 gui3: [literally] see his ghost; jian4 see, meet; ta1 de5 his (ta1 he; de5 possessive marker); gui3 ghost, demon
• Also jian4gui3: to go to hell, preposterous; Jian4gui3!: Nonsense!, You're daydreaming!, Damn it!

Related Expression(s):

• gui3 ("Out of Gas")
• niao4 shi1 de5 du3gui3 ("Heart of Gold")

• Na4 mei2 guan1xi5.
• 那沒關係。・那没关系。
• "Nah mei guan-shee."
• "That has nothing to do with it."
• Gabriel Tam, amusedly accepting dinosaur excuse for Young Simon's strong language

• na4: that
• mei2 guan1xi5: have no relevance; mei2 have no, negative verb-prefix; guan1xi5 to matter, relationship (guan1 relate to; xi4 relate to)

• tian1 xiao3de2
• 天曉得・天晓得
• "tyen-shiao duh"
• "heaven knows what"
• Gabriel Tam, invoked about some Cortex contents

• tian1 xiao3de2: [colloquial] God knows, Heaven knows; tian1 heaven, God; xiao3de2 [borrowed from non-Mandarin Chinese] know (xiao3 know; de2 -able)
• Mandarin term is 知道・知道 zhi1dao5: know; zhi1 know; dao4 path.

See also:

• "Bushwhacked"
• "The Message"

Related Expression(s):

• Ai1ya1. Tian1 a5 . . . (Serenity Movie)
• Lao3tian1, bu4. ("Safe")
• Lao3tian1ye2. ("Ariel")
• Tian1sha1 de5 e4mo2. ("Ariel")
• Wo3 de5 tian1, a5. ("Bushwhacked")

• da4 bian4hua4
• 大變化・大变化
• "da bianhua"
• "big change"
• Young Simon, about getting a dedicated source box

• da4: big, great
• bian4hua4: a change, transformation; bian4 a change, to change, be transformed; hua4 to change, transform

• Liu2 kou3shui3 de5 biao3zi5 he2 hou2zi5 de5 ben4 er2zi5.
• 流口水的婊子和猴子的笨兒子。・流口水的婊子和猴子的笨儿子。
• "Liou coe shway duh biao-tze huh hoe-tze duh ur-tze." [sic; River sounds like Liou coe shway duh bia-tze huh hoe-tze doo bun ur-tze]
• "Stupid son of a drooling whore and a monkey."
• River, ranted at Mal

• liu2 kou3shui3 de5 biao3zi5 he2 hou2zi5 de5: of a salivating whore and a monkey; liu2 kou3shui3 make the mouth water (liu2 to flow; kou3shui3 saliva [kou3 mouth; shui3 water]); de5 relative clause marker; biao3zi5 [derogatory] whore (biao3 prostitute; zi5 suffix to make noun two syllables); he2 and; hou2zi5 monkey (hou2 monkey; zi5 suffix to make noun two syllables); de5 possessive marker
• ben4 er2zi5: stupid son; ben4 stupid, clumsy; er2zi5 son (er2 son, child; zi5 suffix to make noun two syllables)
• This expression seems to be based on the slang biao3zi5 de5 er2zi5: You S.O.B.! ([literally] son of a whore).

Related Expression(s):

• Ben4 tian1sheng1 de5 yi1 dui1 rou4. ("Trash")
• gen1 hou2zi5 bi3 diu1shi3 ("Heart of Gold")
• hou2zi5 de5 pi4gu5! ("Trash")
• qiang2bao4 hou2zi5 de5 ("Trash")
• Ta1 shi4 suo3you3 de5 di4yu4 de5 biao3zi5 de5 ma1! ("Trash")
• Wang2ba5dan4 de5 biao3zi5. ("Trash")
• yu2ben4 de5 ("Shindig")

• Niu2fen4.
• 牛糞・牛粪
• "Niou fun." [Simon sounds like Niao-fff.]
• "Cow poop."
• Simon, notes after stepping in same

• niu2fen4: cow dung; niu2 cow; fen4 excrement, dung

Related Expression(s):

• niu2shi3 ("War Stories")
• Xi1niu2 ("Ariel")

• shuai4
• 帥・帅
• "swai" [subtitles: "shuai"]
• "cute"
• Kaylee, referring to Simon

• shuai4: handsome, dashing, [literally] to command [an army]

• le4se4
• 垃圾・垃圾
• "luh-suh" [subtitles: "luh-suh"]
• "garbage"
• Simon, referring to Serenity

• le4se4: [Taiwanism] garbage, trash; le4 garbage; se4 garbage
• Standard pronunciation: la1ji1

See also:

• "Safe" [below]

• pian1zhi2 de5 jiu1cha2yuan2
• 偏執的糾察員・偏执的纠察员
• pyen juh duh jiou cha wen [Simon sounds like pyen juh duh jiou chao rien.]
• stubborn martinet
• Simon, referring to Mal

• pian1zhi2 de5: stubborn, obstinate; pian1 stubbornly, insist on; zhi2 persist in; de5 adjective marker
• jiu1cha2yuan2: disciplinary officer; jiu1cha2 disciplinary officer, investigate [a police case] (jiu1 oversee; cha2 investigate, inspect); yuan2 suffix for members, -er
• Thanks to Firefly Chinese Translator Jenny Lynn for the pinyin and to her and Joss Whedon for the English meaning.

• Le4se4? [AGAIN]
• 垃圾？・垃圾？
• "Luh-suh?" [subtitles: "Luh-suh?"]
• "Garbage?"
• Kaylee, surprised by Simon's slur against Serenity

• le4se4: [Taiwanism] garbage, trash; le4 garbage; se4 garbage
• Standard pronunciation: la1ji1

See also:

• "Safe" [above, below]

• le4se4 [AGAIN]
• 垃圾・垃圾
• "luh-suh" [subtitles: "luh-suh"]
• "garbage"
• Kaylee, refuting Simon's slur against Serenity

• le4se4: [Taiwanism] garbage, trash; le4 garbage; se4 garbage
• Standard pronunciation: la1ji1

See also:

• "Safe" [above]

• Fei4hua4.
• 廢話。・废话。
• "Fei hua." [subtitles: "Fei hua."]
• "Nonsense."
• Mal, refuting claim that cattle are in poor condition

• fei4hua4: nonsense, Nonsense!; fei4 useless, to abandon; hua4 words, talk

Related Expression(s):

• fei4wu4 ("Out of Gas")

• Ma3shang4!
• 馬上！・马上！
• "Ma-Shong!" [subtitles: "ma shong"]
• "Now!"
• Mal, to Wash about hurrying to the infirmary

• ma3shang4: right away, at once, [literally] on horseback; ma3 horse; shang4 to mount

• Lao3tian1, bu4.
• 老天，不。・老天，不。
• "Lao-tyen, boo."
• "Oh, god, no."
• Wash, on seeing Book's gunshot wound

• lao3tian1: Oh God!, My God!, Heavens!; lao3 honorific, [literally] old; tian1 heaven, God
• bu4: no

Related Expression(s):

• Ai1ya1. Tian1 a5 . . . (Serenity Movie)
• Lao3tian1ye2. ("Ariel")
• Tian1sha1 de5 e4mo2. ("Ariel")
• tian1 xiao3de2 ("Bushwhacked," "Safe," "The Message")
• Wo3 de5 tian1, a5. ("Bushwhacked")

• jing1chang2 mei2yong4 de5
• 經常沒用的・经常没用的
• "jing-tzahng mei yong-duh" [Mal sounds like jing-tsing myung duh.]
• "consistently useless"
• Mal, referring to Doctor Simon

• jing1chang2: regularly, constantly; jing1 regular, constant; chang2 usually, regularly
• mei2yong4 de5: useless; mei2 negative verb-prefix; yong4 to use; de5 adjective marker

• Mei4mei5
• 妹妹・妹妹
• "Mei mei" [subtitles: "Mei-mei"]
• "Little sister"
• Simon, addressing River

• mei4mei5: little sister, younger sister; mei4 little sister, younger sister

See also:

• "Serenity, Part 1"
• "Our Mrs. Reynolds"
• "Ariel"
• "War Stories"
• "Heart of Gold"

Related Expression(s):

• xiao3mei4mei4 ("Serenity, Part 2")
• Zhu4fu2 ni3, mei4mei5. ("Heart of Gold")

• Chu2fei1 wo3 si3 le5.
• 除非我死了。・除非我死了。
• "[Whispering in Chinese.]" [Gabriel sounds like Joo fay woo suh lah.]
• Over my dead body.
• Gabriel Tam, to Simon about Simon's returning to the blackout zone

• chu2fei1 wo3 si3 le5: [literally] [not] unless I die; chu2fei1 unless, only if (chu2 unless, except; fei1 not); wo3 I; si3 to die; le5 change-indicating marker
• Thanks to Firefly Chinese Translator Jenny Lynn for the pinyin and English meaning.

• nian2qing1 de5
• 年輕的・年轻的
• "nyen ching-duh"
• "young one"
• Patron, addressing River

• nian2qing1 de5: young one; nian2qing1 young (nian2 year; qing1 simple, small in number); de5 adjective marker [modified noun is understood or generic: young one]

Cut Chinese Dialog

• gou3shi3 [CUT]
• 狗屎・狗屎
• "go se"
• "crap"
• Simon, referring to store's decorative plates

• gou3shi3: [derogatory] worthless thing, [literally] dog excrement; gou3 dog; shi3 [Taiwan si3] excrement, dung
• This was replaced by the English word.
• Thanks to Firefly Chinese Translator Jenny Lynn for the si3 form and Taiwan origin.

See also:

• "Shindig"
• "Out of Gas"
• "The Message"
• Serenity Novelization

Related Expression(s):

• gen1 hou2zi5 bi3 diu1shi3 ("Heart of Gold")
• gou3 cao4 de5 ("The Train Job")
• niu2shi3 ("War Stories")
• zheng1qi4 de5 gou3shi3 dui1 ("Our Mrs. Reynolds")

• bu4tai4 zheng4chang2 de5 [CUT]
• 不太正常的・不太正常的
• "boo-tai jung-tzahng-duh"
• "not entirely sane"
• Simon, referring to River

• bu4tai4 zheng4chang2 de5: not very normal; bu4tai4 not very (bu4 [shifts to bu2 before a 4th-tone syllable] not; tai4 very); zheng4chang2 de5 normal (zheng4 correct, proper; chang2 normal; de5 adjective marker).
• This was replaced by a line referring to Mal: pian1zhi2 de5 jiu1cha2yuan2 stubborn martinet [above].

• chui1niu2 [CUT]
• 吹牛・吹牛
• "tsway-niou"
• "bullcrap"
• Gabriel Tam, after Simon implies he himself has always taken care of River

• chui1niu2: [colloquial] to brag, boast; chui1 [colloquial] to brag, boast, [literally] to blow; niu2 [colloquial] to brag, boast, [literally] ox
• Also 吹牛皮・吹牛皮 chui1 niu2pi2: to brag, boast; chui1 [colloquial] to brag, boast, [literally] to blow; niu2pi2 bragging, great exaggeration, [literally] ox hide, leather (niu2 ox; pi2 hide, leather)

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Visible Chinese

• 醫
• [ Simplified: 医 ]
• Yi1
• Medical Treatment
• on infirmary door, somewhat visible as Simon closes up infirmary to calm River

• yi1: doctor, medical profession, to treat

See also:

• "Bushwhacked"
• "Out of Gas"

• 窩
• [ Simplified: 窝 ]
• Wo1
• Living Quarters
• on cone-shaped part of vertical pipe as camera pans to infirmary right after Jayne's pilfering

• wo1: living quarters, nest

See also:

• "Out of Gas"
• Firefly Elsewhere: DVD Special Features
• Firefly Elsewhere: Firefly: The Official Companion - Volume One

• 蚈
• [ written backwards; obscure word/character ]
• Qian1
• Firefly [old]
• on inside of Serenity's cockpit, above Wash and in front of Mal, somewhat visible as Wash requests permission to dock with Alliance Cruiser Magellan

• qian1: firefly, lightning bug

See also:

• "Serenity, Part 2"
• "Our Mrs. Reynolds"
• "Objects in Space"
• Firefly Elsewhere: Press Kit

• 同盟
• Tong2meng2
• Alliance
• on metal chest pin of Alliance commander, somewhat visible as he starts to refuse medical treatment

• tong2meng2: alliance; tong2 together; meng2 alliance

See also:

• "Serenity, Part 1"
• "The Train Job"
• "Bushwhacked"
• 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)

• 战斗的小精灵
• [ Traditional: 戰鬥的小精靈 ]
• Zhan4dou4 de5 Xiao3jing1ling2
• [The] Fighting Elves
• on Jayne's T-shirt with "28" and flames, somewhat visible at end after he welcomes Simon back

• zhan4dou4 de5: fighting, militant; zhan4dou4 to fight, a fight (zhan4 a battle, war; dou4 to fight, to struggle); de5 relative clause marker
• xiao3jing1ling2: elf; xiao3 small; jing1ling2 spirits, ghosts (jing1 etherial being; ling2 spirit, soul)

See also:

• "Out of Gas"
• "War Stories"

• 平静
• [ Traditional: 平靜 ]
• Ping2jing4
• "Serenity" [new]
• in logo on outside of Serenity, somewhat visible just before final, dining scene

• ping2jing4: calm, tranquil; ping2 calm, peaceful; jing4 calm, still

See also:

• "Serenity, Part 1"
• Firefly Elsewhere: Press Kit

Related Expression(s):

• Jing4 (Serenity Movie)
• Jing3wei4; Ping2jing4 (Firefly Elsewhere: Cast and Crew Stuff)
• Ning2jing4 (Serenity #1–3 Comics, Serenity Movie)
• Ping2 ("Jaynestown")
• Ping2an1 (Serenity Elsewhere: Official Site [USA])

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"Our Mrs. Reynolds"

Chinese Dialog

• Dang1ran2.
• 當然。・当然。
• "Dahng ran." [Simon sounds like Dahng nang.]
• "Of course."
• Simon, about having an encyclopedia

• dang1ran2: of course, certainly; dang1 proper, fit; ran2 adverb suffix, -ly

• Ni3 bu4 gou4ge2, ni3 hun2qiu2.
• 你不夠格，你混球。・你不够格，你混球。
• "Nee boo go guh, nee hwun chiou." [Kaylee sounds like Nee boo goo gah, nee hwong chion.]
• "You don't deserve her, you fink."
• Kaylee, to Mal about his treatment of new wife

• ni3: you
• bu4 gou4ge2: aren't good enough; bu4 [shifts to bu2 before a 4th-tone syllable] not; gou4ge2 qualified (gou4 adequate, enough; ge2 qualifications, a standard)
• ni3 hun2qiu2: you no-good bastard; ni3 you [singular]; hun2qiu2 [colloquial] no-good bastard, wretch (hun2 filthy, murky; qiu2 globe, ball)
• Thanks to Firefly Chinese Translator Jenny Lynn for the gou4ge2 and -qiu2.
• Also bu4gou4: not enough, not good enough

• Guan3 ni3 zi4ji3 de5 shi4.
• 管你自己的事。・管你自己的事。
• "Gwan nee tzi-jee duh shr."
• "Mind your own business."
• Mal, to Kaylee about his treatment of new wife

• guan3 ni3 zi4ji3 de5 shi4: Mind your own business; guan3 look after; ni3 zi4ji3 de5 your own (ni3 zi4ji3 you yourself [ni3 you; zi4ji3 oneself, one's own—zi4 oneself, one's own; ji3 oneself]; de5 possessive marker); shi4 matters, business

• bao [BORROWED CHINESE]
• 包・包
• "bao" [in script as English; subtitles: "bao," as English]
• "bao"
• Wash, on seeing Saffron's cooking

• bao: [short for 包子・包子 bao1zi5] bao, stuffed bun; bao1 bun, a package; zi5 suffix to make noun two syllables

• Da4xiang4 bao4zha4shi4 de5 la1 du4zi5
• 大象爆炸式的拉肚子・大象爆炸式的拉肚子
• "Da-shiang bao-tza shr duh lah doo-tze" [Mal sounds like Da-shiang bao tse shr la duh too-tze.]
• "The explosive diarrhea of an elephant"
• Mal, response to Jayne's Vera-for-Saffron offer

• da4xiang4: elephant; da4 big, great; xiang4 elephant
• bao4zha4shi4 de5: exploding-type; bao4zha4 explode (bao4 explode; zha4 explode); shi4 type, style, suffix meaning: -ation; de5 possessive marker
• la1 du4zi5: have diarrhea; la1 excrete, move bowels; du4zi5 belly, bowels (du4 belly; zi5 suffix to make noun two syllables)
• Thanks to Firefly Chinese Translator Jenny Lynn for the shi4 and its English meaning (and for confirming the other pinyin in this entry).

• hun2dan4
• 渾蛋・浑蛋
• "hwun dan"
• "bastard"
• Mal, referring to Elder Gommen, for paying his bill with a wife

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

See also:

• "Serenity, Part 2"
• "Bushwhacked"
• Serenity #1 Comic

Related Expression(s):

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

• Wo3 de5 ma1 he2 ta1 de5 feng1kuang2 de5 wai4sheng5 dou1
• 我的媽和她的瘋狂的外甥都・我的妈和她的疯狂的外甥都
• "Wuh duh ma huh tah duh fong kwong duh wai shung" [sic; Wash sounds like Woo duh ma huh ta duh fong-kwong duh wai-shuh doo.]
• "Holy mother of god and all her wacky nephews"
• Wash, response to Saffron's advances

• wo3 de5 ma1: My God!, [literally] My ma!, Mamma mia!
• he2: and
• ta1 de5 feng1kuang2 de5 wai4sheng5 dou1: all her crazy newphews; ta1 de5 her (ta1 she; de5 possessive marker); feng1kuang2 de5 crazy, insane (feng1 crazy, insane; kuang2 crazy, insane; de5 adjective marker); wai4sheng5 nephew, sister's son (wai4 on mother's side, [literally] outside; sheng1 sister's child); dou1 all

Related Expression(s):

• fang4zong4 feng1kuang2 de5 jie2 ("War Stories")
• feng1le5 ("Bushwhacked")
• kuang2zhe3 de5 ("Serenity, Part 2")
• Wo3 de5 ma1 ("Bushwhacked," "The Message")
• Wo3 de5 tian1, a5. ("Bushwhacked")
• xiong1meng3 de5 kuang2ren2 ("Objects in Space")

• Ren2ci2 de5 Fo2zu3 . . .
• 仁慈的佛祖……・仁慈的佛祖……
• "Run-tse duh fwotzoo..."
• "Merciful buddha..."
• Inara, on seeing Mal is alive

• ren2ci2 de5: merciful, benevolent; ren2 compassionate, benevolence; ci2 compassionate, benevolent; de5 adjective marker
• Fo2zu3: [courteous form] Buddha; Fo2 Buddha; zu3 ancestor
• 佛陀・佛陀 Fo2tuo2 are phonetic characters for Sanskrit: Buddha [Fo2 Buddha; tuo2 phonetic character, [literally] steep bank, hilly].

Related Expression(s):

• Ren2ci2 de5 Fo2zu3, qing3 bao3you4 wo3men5 . . . (Serenity Movie)
• Ren2ci2 de5 Shang4di4, qing3 dai4 wo3 zou3 (Serenity Movie)
• Zhen1 mei2 nai4xing4 de5 Fo2zu3 ("Heart of Gold")

• jian4huo4
• 賤貨・贱货
• "jien huo" [Zoe sounds like jien hwa.]
• "cheap floozy"
• Zoe, referring to Saffron

• jian4huo4: [derogatory] hussy, slut; jian4 cheap, worthless; huo4 goods, merchandise

• Jing1cai3.
• 精彩・精彩
• "Jing tsai." [Wash sounds like jing-tzai.]
• "Brilliant."
• Wash, referring to Saffron's sabotage rewiring

• jing1cai3: brilliant, splendid; jing1 exquisite; cai3 brilliance, splendor

• Deng3 yi1huir4 . . .
• 等一會兒……・等一会儿……
• "Dung ee hwar..." [Wash sounds like Duh-ning mah.]
• "Hold on a second..."
• Wash, to Mal as checks if Saffron signaled anyone

• deng3 yi1huir4: wait a little while; deng3 to wait; yi1hui(r)4 a little while, a short moment (yi1 [shifts to yi2 before a 4th-tone syllable] a, one; hui(r) [colloquial] a while [-r is non-syllabic colloquial suffix])
• Wash might have been saying 等一秒・等一秒 deng3 yi1 miao3: wait a second; deng3 to wait; yi1 miao3 a second (yi1 [shifts to yi4 before a 3rd-tone syllable] a, one; miao3 second).

• Ai1ya1!
• 哎呀！・哎呀！
• "Aiya!" [subtitles: wrongly "Hey, uh--"]
• "Damn!"
• Wash, as notices electrical interference

• ai1ya1: interjection for surprise or regret, Damn!, Oh my!, Ah!; ai1 interjection for surprise or regret; ya1 interjection for surprise

Related Expression(s):

• Ai1ya1! Huai4le5. ("Serenity, Part 1")
• Ai1ya1. Tian1 a5 . . . (Serenity Movie)
• Ai1ya1. Wo3men5 wan2le5. ("Serenity, Part 2")

Cut Chinese Dialog

• zheng1qi4 de5 gou3shi3 dui1 [CUT]
• 蒸氣的狗屎堆・蒸汽的狗屎堆
• "jung chi duh go-se dway"
• "steaming crap pile"
• Bandit 1, addressing disguised Jayne

• zheng1qi4 de5: steamy; zheng1qi4 steam (zheng1 steam; qi4 gas); de5 possessive marker
• gou3shi3 dui1: dog-crap pile; gou3shi3 [derogatory] worthless thing, [literally] dog excrement (gou3 dog; shi3 [Taiwan si3] excrement, dung); dui1 a stack, pile

Related Expression(s):

• gen1 hou2zi5 bi3 diu1shi3 ("Heart of Gold")
• gou3 cao4 de5 ("The Train Job")
• gou3shi3 ("Shindig," "Safe," "Out of Gas," "The Message," Serenity Novelization)
• niu2shi3 ("War Stories")

• Zen3me5 le5? [DELETED SCENE ON DVD]
• 怎麼了？・怎么了？
• "Tzuh muh luh?"
• "What's going on?"
• Simon, to Book as River escorts him to Book

• zen3me5 le5: What happened?, What's wrong?; zen3me5 how?, what (zen3 why, how; me5 question marker); le5 change-indicating marker

• mei4mei5 [DELETED SCENE ON DVD]
• 妹妹・妹妹
• "mei-mei"
• little sister [in script without English]
• Simon, addressing River

• mei4mei5: little sister, younger sister; mei4 little sister, younger sister

See also:

• "Serenity, Part 1"
• "Safe"
• "Ariel"
• "War Stories"
• "Heart of Gold"

Related Expression(s):

• xiao3mei4mei4 ("Serenity, Part 2")
• Zhu4fu2 ni3, mei4mei5. ("Heart of Gold")

Top | Chinese by Story | Chinese Dialog by Phrase | Main Page

Visible Chinese

• 危 電・氛
• [ Simplified: 危 电・氛 ]
• Wei1 Dian4; Fen1
• Danger Electricity; Vapor
• on white duct outside Serenity's cargo bay, visible as Jayne and Zoe enter and meet Saffron for first time

• wei1: danger
• dian4: electricity, electric
• fen1: vapor

See also:

• "Serenity, Part 1"
• "The Train Job"
• "Shindig"
• "Out of Gas"
• "Ariel"
• "War Stories"
• "Trash"
• "The Message"

Related Expression(s):

• Wei1 ("Ariel," "Trash," "Objects in Space")

• 蚈
• [ written backwards; obscure word/character ]
• Qian1
• Firefly [old]
• on inside of Serenity's cockpit, behind Zoe during goose juggling discussion

• qian1: firefly, lightning bug

See also:

• "Serenity, Part 2"
• "Safe"
• "Objects in Space"
• Firefly Elsewhere: Press Kit

• 囍壽{祿}
• [ stylized, third character obscured by plant; Simplified: 囍寿{禄}; 囍 is special doubled form of 喜 xi3: happiness]
• Xi3 Shou4 {Lu4}
• marital bliss, longevity, {wealth}
• on vertical Chinese calligraphy hanging in Mal's quarters, visible behind Mal as Saffron seduces him

• xi3: marital bliss
• shou4: longevity
• lu4: wealth
• Probably from 福祿壽囍 fu2-lu4-shou4-xi3 happiness wealth longevity marital bliss (or 喜 happiness). From EVIESERENITY's post on Firefly Fans.net.
• Also 福祿壽考・福禄寿考 fu2-lu4-shou4-kao3: prosperity, high position, and long life; 福祿壽・福禄寿 fu2-lu4-shou4: happiness, wealth, and longevity

See also:

• "Serenity, Part 1"

Related Expression(s):

• xi3 (Serenity Movie)

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"Jaynestown"

Chinese Dialog

• Zhe4 shi4 shen2me5 lan4 dong1xi5!?
• 這是什麼爛東西！？・这是什么烂东西！？
• "Je shr shuh muh lan dong shi!?"
• "What is this garbage!?"
• Wash, referring to Mudder's Milk

• zhe4 shi4 shen2me5: what is this?; zhe4 this; shi4 be; shen2me5 what? (shen2 [Taiwan she2] what?; me5 question marker)
• lan4 dong1xi5: trash, junk; lan4 messy; dong1xi5 thing (dong1 east; xi1 west)
• Similar insult is Ni3 shi4 shen2me5 dong1xi5?: What are you anyway?
• Also shen2me5: something, anything

Related Expression(s):

• Shen2me5? ("Serenity, Part 2," "Shindig," Serenity Movie)

• Ye1su1, ta1ma1 de5 . . .
• 耶穌，他媽的……・耶稣，他妈的……
• "Yeh-soo, ta ma duh..."
• "Hay-soose-mother-of-jumped-up--"
• Jayne, as Hero of Canton song starts

• Ye1su1: phonetic characters for: Jesus [Spanish Jesús [Hay-soose]]; ye1 phonetic character, [literally] question marker; su1 phonetic character, [literally] revive
• ta1ma1 de5: [vulgar] intensifer damn/damned, intensifier f***ing; ta1ma1 his ma (ta1 he [understood de5 possessive marker]; ma1 ma); de5 possessive marker

Related Expression(s):

• Ni3 ta1ma1 de5. Tian1xia4 suo3you3 de5 ren2. Dou1 gai1si3. ("Serenity, Part 1")
• Ta1ma1 de5. ("Serenity, Part 1")
• Ta1ma1 de5 hun2dan4. ("War Stories")
• Zhen1 ta1ma1 yao4ming4. Zhu4yi4. ("Serenity, Part 1")

• xiong2mao1 niao4
• 熊貓尿・熊猫尿
• "shiong mao niao" [Bartender sounds like shung mao niao.]
• "panda urine"
• Bartender, about Mudder's Milk being unworthy of the Hero

• xiong2mao1: panda; xiong2 a bear; mao1 cat
• niao4: urine

Related Expression(s):

• chou4 ma3-niao4 (Serenity Novelization)
• niao4 shi1 de5 du3gui3 ("Heart of Gold")

• ge5 zhen1 de5 hun2dan4!
• 個真的渾蛋！・个真的浑蛋！
• guh jun duh hwoon dahn!
• a real bastard!
• Jayne [off-screen], referring to Boss [Magistrate] Higgins

• ge5 zhen1 de5: a real; ge5 a, one; zhen1 de5 real, true (zhen1 real, true; de5 adjective marker)
• hun2dan4: [derogatory] bastard, scoundrel; hun2 stupid; dan4 word used in insults, [literally] egg

Related Expression(s):

• hun2dan4 ("Serenity, Part 2," "Bushwhacked," "Our Mrs. Reynolds"; Serenity #1 Comic)
• Ta1ma1 de5 hun2dan4. ("War Stories")

• Hu2che3.
• 胡扯。・胡扯。
• "Hoo-tsuh." [Zoe sounds like Ho-tsuh.]
• "Shut up." ["as in 'get out'"]
• Zoe, shocked at hearing from Wash that Jayne's a folk hero

• hu2che3: talk nonsense, nonsense; hu2 recklessly, foolishly; che3 to gossip, talk irresponsibly

• Gao1yang2 zhong1 de5 gu1yang2.
• 羔羊中的孤羊。・羔羊中的孤羊。
• "Gao yang jong duh goo yang." [Wash sounds like Go yang jong duh goo yang.]
• "Motherless goats of all motherless goats."
• Wash, as notices land-lock

• gao1yang2 zhong1 de5: among young goats; gao1yang2 a kid [goat], lamb (gao1 a kid [goat], lamb; yang2 goat, sheep); zhong1 de5 among (zhong1 middle, center; de5 possessive marker)
• gu1yang2: orphaned goat; gu1 orphaned, fatherless; yang2 goat, sheep

Top | Chinese by Story | Chinese Dialog by Phrase | Main Page

Visible Chinese

• 能
• Neng2
• brand of "best whiskey in the house" in Canton bar
• on bottle in red, somewhat visible after bartender knocks Mudder's Milk from Jayne's hand and pulls this out

• neng2: ability, capability

• 平
• [ style with the two short strokes tapering upward instead of downward: ]
• Ping2
• Peaceful
• on candle Inara lights before making tea

• ping2: calm, peaceful

Related Expression(s):

• Ping2an1 (Serenity Elsewhere: Official Site [USA])
• Ping2jing4 ("Serenity, Part 1," "The Train Job," "Safe," "The Message," Firefly Elsewhere: Press Kit)

• 道
• Dao4
• Tao
• tattoo on right shoulder of prod as he walks to foreman before Jayne's speech

• dao4: way, path, Taoism/Daoism

• 玩闹
• [ Traditional: 玩鬧 ]
• Wan2nao4
• {Troublemaker}
• on Jayne's T-shirt with picture of pistol, visible during his speech

• wan2nao4: [colloquial] troublemaker, a good-for-nothing, run wild, fool around: wan2 to play; nao4 make noise, stir up trouble

See also:

• "The Message"
• Serenity Movie

Top | Chinese by Story | Chinese Dialog by Phrase | Main Page