Serenity Movie

Serenity Movie

Chinese Dialog

• Bai4tuo1, an1jing4 yi1dian3!
• 拜托，安靜一點！・拜托，安静一点！
• "BAI-tuo, AN-jing-eedyen!"
• "We will enjoy your silence now!"
• Teacher, to disruptive Boy #2 [novelization, p. 65, Professor Rao, to disruptive student Marvin]

• bai4tuo1: [courteous] to request [of someone], [colloquial] please I beg you, [Taiwan fixed expression] Give me a break!; bai4 to bow, show deference; tuo1 request a favor, entrust
• an1jing4: [be] quiet; an1 tranquil, peaceful; jing4 calm, still
• yi1dian3: a little; yi1 [shifts to yi4 before a 3rd-tone syllable] a, one; dian3 [measure word for small amounts], [literally] a spot, dot

See also:

• Serenity Novelization

• Dong3 le5 ma5? Ni3 chou2lian3, you3 mei2you3?
• 懂了嗎？你愁臉，有沒有？・懂了吗？你愁脸，有没有？
• "DONG-luh-MAH?" Ni cho lyen, yo may yo? [Mal sounds like Dong-luh-mah? Ni chow len, yo may yo?
• "Are we clear here?" Do you have a worried face?
• Mal, to Simon to end argument then more to self [novelization, p. 52； second sentence not in script or novelization]

• dong3 le5 ma5: understood?; dong3 understand; le5 completion marker; ma5 question marker
• ni3: you
• chou2lian3: a worried face; chou2 to worry; lian3 a face, a facial expression
• you3 mei2you3: have (or not)?, is there (or not)?; you3 have, there is; mei2you3 not have, there is not (mei2 negative verb-prefix; you3 have, there is)
• The worried-face line would be a callback to Simon's look of fear versus anger at the beginning of their conversation.

Related Expression(s):

• dong3 le5 ma5? (Serenity Novelization)
• Dong3 ma5? ("The Train Job," "Out of Gas," "The Message," "Heart of Gold")

• Ai1ya1. Tian1 a5 . . .
• 哎呀。天啊……・哎呀。天啊……
• "Ai-yah. Tyen-ah..." [subtitles: completely omitted]
• "Merciless hell..."
• Wash, on hearing of Reavers [described in novelization, p. 76]

• ai1ya1: interjection for surprise or regret, Damn!, Oh my!, Ah!; ai1 interjection for surprise or regret; ya1 interjection for surprise
• tian1 a5: Oh God!; tian1 heaven, God; a5 ah, marker of direct address or exclamation

Related Expression(s):

• Ai1ya1! ("Our Mrs. Reynolds")
• Ai1ya1! Huai4le5. ("Serenity, Part 1")
• Ai1ya1. Wo3men5 wan2le5. ("Serenity, Part 2")
• Lao3tian1, bu4. ("Safe")
• Lao3tian1ye2. ("Ariel")
• Tian1sha1 de5 e4mo2. ("Ariel")
• tian1 xiao3de2 ("Bushwhacked," "Safe," "The Message")
• Wo3 de5 tian1, a5. ("Bushwhacked")

• Da4jia1 zuo4xia5!
• 大家坐下！・大家坐下！
• Da jee-ah tzwo sha!
• Everybody sit down!
• Zoe, to fellow hovercraft occupants before U-turn [not in script or novelization]

• da4jia1: everyone; da4 big, great; jia1 family, household
• zuo4xia5: sit down; zuo4 sit; xia4 down
• Translation suggestion from tmhsiao's blog.

• Ni3 zhao3si3 ma5? Ni3 yao4 wo3 kai1qiang1?
• 你找死嗎？你要我開槍？・你找死吗？你要我开枪？
• "Nee TZAO ss-MA? Nee-YOW wuh-KAI CHANG?"
• "You wanna bullet? You wanna bullet right through your throat?"
• Mal, to Simon after getting punched [described in novelization, p. 81]

• ni3 zhao3si3 ma5: [contemptuous] Are you looking to die?; ni3 you [singular]; zhao3si3 to court death (zhao3 look for; si3 death); ma5 question marker
• ni3 yao4 wo3 kai1qiang1?: You want me to shoot?; ni3 you; yao4 to want, wish; wo3 I; kai1qiang1 to shoot, open fire (kai1 set in motion, [literally] to open; qiang1 a gun)

• Piao4liang5 de5 xiao3jie5, [ni3 gu4 wo3 he2 ni3 xiang1hao3. Wo3 hui4 rong2 ni3 sheng4kai1 ru2 hua1] . . . [PARTIALLY CUT]
• 漂亮的小姐，你雇我和你相好。我會容你盛開如花……・漂亮的小姐，你雇我和你相好。我会容你盛开如花……
• "PEOW-liang de shaojie, nee GOO wuo HUHnee SHANG-hao. Wuh HWAY wrongnee shungkai roo hua..."
• "Pretty lady, hire me for the night and I'll open you like a flower..."
• [Beaumonde] Man [off-screen], to Woman on street [described in novelization, p. 103]

• piao4liang5 de5 xiao3jie5: beautiful young lady; piao4liang5 de5 beautiful (piao4 to fail; liang4 bright, light; de5 adjective marker); xiao3jie5 young lady (xiao3 small; jie3 young woman)
• ni3 gu4 wo3 he2 ni3 xiang1hao3: you hire me to have an affair with you; ni3 you [singular]; gu4 hire; wo3 me; he2 with; ni3 you [singular] [singular]; xiang1hao3 have an affair with, lover (xiang1 each other; hao3 good)
• wo3 hui4 rong2 ni3 sheng4kai1 ru2 hua1: I'll let you fully bloom like a flower; wo3 I; hui4 will, be sure to; rong2 allow, let; ni3 you [singular]; sheng4kai1 in full bloom (sheng4 flourishing; kai1 to open); ru2 like, as if; hua1 flower

Related Expression(s):

• Piao4liang5 de5 xiao3jie5, bu4li3 ta1, gu4 wo3 . . . (Serenity Movie)
• Wo3 tai4tai5 bu4 piao4liang5! (Serenity Movie)

• Wo3 hen3 {diu1lian3}. Wo3 mei2you3 chi1 Fruity Oaty Bar.
• 我很丟臉。我沒有吃Fruity Oaty Bar。・我很丢脸。我没有吃Fruity Oaty Bar。
• Wuo hun {diou lyen}. Wuo may yo chr Fruity Oaty Bar. [The Shamed Gentleman sounds like Wuo hun diao nyen. Wuo may yo chr Fruity Oaty Bar.]
• I am very ashamed. I didn't eat a Fruity Oaty Bar.
• Shamed Gentleman [off-screen], in Fruity Oaty Bar commercial shown in Maidenhead tavern

• wo3 hen3 diu1lian3: I am very ashamed; wo3 I; hen3 very, very much; diu1lian3 feel ashamed, [literally] lose face (diu1 lose; lian3 face)
• wo3 mei2you3 chi1: I didn't eat; wo3 I; mei2you3 did not (mei2 negative verb-prefix; you3 have, there is); chi1 eat
• Fruity Oaty Bar: Fruity Oaty Bar
• Thanks to Craig Kurumada for the suggested translation.

See also:

• Serenity Elsewhere: Chinese Dialog

• Eto kuram na smekh! [NOT CHINESE]
• 
• "Eta Kooram Nah Smech!" [subtitles: wrongly say it's Chinese, but say it's a foreign language in deleted-scene version]
• That's ridiculous! [used as safeword]
• Simon, used to put River to sleep [novelization, p. 115]

• [RUSSIAN]
• eto: that, this [demonstrative pronoun]
• kuram na smekh: [idiom] ridiculous, [literally] to make the hens laugh; kuram for hens [dative case plural of kuritsa: hen]; na intended for; smekh laughter
• Idiomatic meaning from data on Cornell University's Russian Language Program site; literal meaning from various Serenity fans and Provérbios russos, which gives the English equivalent of: it is enough to make a cat laugh.
• Speaking of the Tams and Russian, (tam) is the Russian word for there.

• Gou4 huang1tang2.
• 夠荒唐。・够荒唐。
• "Go HWONG-TONG."
• "Enough of this nonsense."
• Jayne, to self about keeping River [skipped in novelization, p. 178]

• gou4: be enough
• huang1tang2: ridiculous, exaggerated; huang1 ridiculous, absurd; tang2 exaggerated, boastful

• Zhe4ge5 ji4hua4 zhen1 ke3pa4! [MOSTLY INAUDIBLE]
• 這個計劃真可怕！・这个计划真可怕！
• "Juhguh JEE HUA jun kuhPAH!"
• "There's nothing about this plan that isn't horrific!"
• Wash, about Mal's dangerous plan [described in novelization, p. 195]

• zhe4ge5 ji4hua4: this plan; zhe4ge5 this, this one (zhe4 this; ge5 a, one); ji4hua4 a plan (ji4 a plan, strategem; hua4 a plan)
• zhen1 ke3pa4: be truly horrible; zhen1 truly, indeed; ke3pa4 horrible, fearful (ke3 prefix turning verb to adjective meaning: capable of, -able/-ible; pa4 to fear, dread)

• Ren2ci2 de5 Shang4di4, qing3 dai4 wo3 zou3
• 仁慈的上帝，請帶我走・仁慈的上帝，请带我走
• "RUNtse de SHANG-DEE, ching DAIwuhtzo"
• "Merciful God please take me away"
• River, as she is psychically overwhelmed on Miranda [novelization, p. 207]

• ren2ci2 de5 Shang4di4: merciful God; ren2ci2 de5 merciful, benevolent (ren2 compassionate, benevolence; ci2 compassionate, benevolent; de5 adjective marker); Shang4di4 God (shang4 a superior; di4 God, Supreme Being)
• qing3 dai4 wo3 zou3: please take me away; qing3 please; dai4 take, carry; wo3 me; zou3 go away

See also:

• Serenity Novelization

Related Expression(s):

• Ren2ci2 de5 Fo2zu3 . . . ("Our Mrs. Reynolds")
• Ren2ci2 de5 Fo2zu3, qing3 bao3you4 wo3men5 . . . (Serenity Movie)

• Wo3 xiang3 mei4 er3, mei4 xin1, bian4 shi2tou5
• 我想昧耳，昧心，變石頭・我想昧耳，昧心，变石头
• "WUOshang mayer, maysheen, BYEN shr-to"
• "I will close my ears and my heart and I will be a stone"
• River, continuing to pray in Chinese after breaking into English [novelization, p. 207]

• wo3 xiang3 mei4 er3, mei4 xin1: I wish to darken my ears and my heart; wo3 I; xiang3 to wish，want to; mei4 darken, to hide; er3 ear; mei4 darken, to hide; xin1 heart, the mind [mei4xin1 ignore one's conscience]
• bian4 shi2tou5: become a stone; bian4 become, be transformed; shi2tou5 stone, rock (shi2 stone, rock; tou2 head)
• Another possibility: 我想沒耳沒心・我想没耳没心 wo3 xiang3 mei2 er3 mei2 xin1 I wish to have no ears or heart [mei2xin1 be mindless], also proposed by Chrysocome on the Serenity Oz message boards

See also:

• Serenity Novelization

Cut Chinese Dialog

• Shen2me5? [CUT]
• 什麼？・什么？
• "Shuh-MUH?"
• "I'm sorry?"
• Teacher, to Young River as she pipes up [described in novelization, p. 65, Professor Rao]

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

See also:

• "Serenity, Part 2"
• "Shindig"

Related Expression(s):

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

• Bi4zui3. Rong2 wo3men5 fa1cai2. [CUT]
• 閉嘴。容我們發財。・闭嘴。容我们发财。
• "BEE-tzway. Wrong wuomun FAH-TSAI."
• "Shut up and make us wealthy."
• Mal, to uncooperative Trade Agent [described in novelization, p. 61]

• bi4zui3: [slang] Shut up!; bi4 shut, close; zui3 beak, snout, mouth
• rong2 wo3men5 fa1cai2: let us get rich; rong2 allow, let; wo3men5 us (wo3 me; men5 plural suffix); fa1cai2 get rich (fa1 to grow, [slang] make a fortune; cai2 wealth)

Related Expression(s):

• Bi4zui3. ("Serenity, Part 1")
• Bi4zui3 nin2 hen3 bu4ti3tie1 de5 nan2sheng1! ("Objects in Space")
• Ni3men5 dou1 bi4zui3! ("Serenity, Part 2")

• Bian1da3 ta1men5 de5 bei4 jiu4 gou4 le5. [DELETED SCENE ON DVD]
• 鞭打她們的背就夠了。・鞭打她们的背就够了。
• "Byen dahTAHmenduhBAY joGOluh."
• "A switch to those girls' backsides is just good enough."
• Inara, to Companion Sheydra about gossipy Companion trainees [described in novelization, p. 100]

• bian1da3 ta1men5 de5 bei4: whipping their [female] backs; bian1da3 to whip, flog (bian1 to lash, flog; da3 to hit, strike); ta1men5 de5 their [female] (ta1 she; men5 plural marker; de5 possessive marker); bei4 one's back, back side of something
• jiu4 gou4 le5: be just good enough; jiu4 just, merely; gou4 be enough, be adequate; le5 marker of exclamation

• Wo3 dui4 ni3 bu4 wen2 bu4 jian4 . . . [CUT]
• 我對你不聞不見……・我对你不闻不见……
• "Wuo DWAY-nee BOO-woon, boo-JEN..."
• "I neither see nor hear you..."
• [Beaumonde] Woman, in reply to Man's proposition [described in novelization, p. 103]

• wo3 dui4 ni3: I in regard to you; wo3 I; dui4 toward, in regard to; ni3 you [singular]
• bu4 wen2 bu4 jian4: don't hear and don't see; bu4 not; wen2 hear; bu4 [shifts to bu2 before a 4th-tone syllable] not; jian4 see

• Piao4liang5 de5 xiao3jie5, bu4li3 ta1, gu4 wo3 . . . [CUT]
• 漂亮的小姐，不理他，雇我……・漂亮的小姐，不理他，雇我……
• "PEOW-liang de shaojie, Booleetah, GOOwo..."
• "Pretty lady, forget him and hire me..."
• [Beaumonde] Man, to Zoe about Wash [described in novelization, p. 104]

• piao4liang5 de5 xiao3jie5: beautiful young lady; piao4liang5 de5 beautiful (piao4 to fail; liang4 bright, light; de5 adjective marker); xiao3jie5 young lady (xiao3 small; jie3 young woman)
• bu4li3 ta1: ignore him; bu4li3 ignore, pay no attention (bu4 not; li3 take notice, pay attention to); ta1 him
• gu4 wo3: hire me; gu4 hire; wo3 me

Related Expression(s):

• Piao4liang5 de5 xiao3jie5, [ni3 gu4 wo3 he2 ni3 xiang1hao3. Wo3 hui4 rong2 ni3 sheng4kai1 ru2 hua1] . . . (Serenity Movie)
• Wo3 tai4tai5 bu4 piao4liang5! (Serenity Movie)

• Wo3 tai4tai5 bu4 piao4liang5! [CUT]
• 我太太不漂亮！・我太太不漂亮！
• "Wo TAI-TAI boo PEOW-liang!"
• "My wife is not pretty!"
• Wash, in reply to [Beaumonde] Man's proposition to Zoe [described in novelization, p. 104]

• wo3 tai4tai5: my wife; wo3 [understood de5 possessive marker] my (wo3 I); tai4tai5 [meaning borrowed from non-Mandarin Chinese] wife (tai4 grand, great)
• bu4 piao4liang5: be not beautiful; bu4 [shifts to bu2 before a 4th-tone syllable] not; piao4liang5 beautiful (piao4 to fail; liang4 bright, light)

Related Expression(s):

• Piao4liang5 de5 xiao3jie5, bu4li3 ta1, gu4 wo3 . . . (Serenity Movie)
• Piao4liang5 de5 xiao3jie5, [ni3 gu4 wo3 he2 ni3 xiang1hao3. Wo3 hui4 rong2 ni3 sheng4kai1 ru2 hua1] . . . (Serenity Movie)

• Ren2ci2 de5 Fo2zu3, qing3 bao3you4 wo3men5 . . . [CUT]
• 仁慈的佛祖，請保佑我們……・仁慈的佛祖，请保佑我们……
• "RUNtse de FWOtzoo, ching baoYO wuomun..."
• "Oh merciful Buddha protect us..."
• Inara, when Mal's dangerous plan starts to become apparent [described in novelization, p. 195]

• ren2ci2 de5 Fo2zu3: merciful Buddha; ren2ci2 de5 merciful, benevolent (ren2 compassionate, benevolence; ci2 compassionate, benevolent; de5 adjective marker); Fo2zu3 [courteous form] Buddha (Fo2 Buddha; zu3 ancestor)
• qing3 bao3you4 wo3men5: please bless and protect us; qing3 please; bao3you4 bless and protect (bao3 protect; you4 protect, help); wo3men5 us (wo3 me; men5 plural marker)
• 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 . . . ("Our Mrs. Reynolds")
• Ren2ci2 de5 Shang4di4, qing3 dai4 wo3 zou3 (Serenity Movie)
• Zhen1 mei2 nai4xing4 de5 Fo2zu3 ("Heart of Gold")

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

Visible Chinese

• 宁静
• [ Traditional: 寧靜 ]
• Ning2jing4
• "Serenity"
• 1. on the ship Serenity's logo, visible at beginning and end of movie
• 2. in movie logo, towards the end of the first and second American trailers

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

See also:

• Serenity: The Official Visual Companion
• Serenity #1–3 Comics

Related Expression(s):

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

• 静
• [ Traditional: 靜 ]
• Jing4
• Serenity [might be abbreviation for Ning2jing4 Serenity]
• on left side of gold-and-red stickers in Serenity's cargo bay, storage locker, corridor, and side of pilot console, first visible on Simon's right as he enters cargo bay during opening credits

• jing4: calm, still

Related Expression(s):

• Jing3wei4; Ping2jing4 (Firefly Elsewhere: Cast and Crew Stuff)
• Ning2jing4 (Serenity Comics #1–3, Serenity Movie [above], Serenity Elsewhere: Serenity: The Official Visual Companion)
• Ping2jing4 ("Serenity, Part 1," "The Train Job," "Safe," "The Message," Firefly Elsewhere: Press Kit)

• 丸临
• [ Traditional: 丸臨 ]
• Wan2 Lin2
• [gibberish]
• 1. on side of hovercraft mule and by its parking-brake lever at front
• 2. on side of Serenity's cargo bay exit [as Kaylee tells Simon not to worry about River on the heist] and on cargo bay by controls for doors [as Simon opens them]

• wan2: pill, small ball
• lin2: at the time of
• They seem to be using it to mean "danger" because it often appears with the Hindi word () and the Arabic word () for that. In the series they used 危 wei1: danger.

See also:

• Serenity Elsewhere: Serenity: The Official Visual Companion

• 丁香伐丙
• Ding1xiang1 Fa2 Bing3
• "Lilac; [gibberish]
• on screen at trading station between "Welcome to [lilac in Arabic]" and "Lilac" in the first international trailer and the second American trailer

• ding1xiang1: lilac [place-name in movie]; ding1 [literally] fourth in a series; xiang1 fragrant
• fa2: to cut, fell, attack
• bing3: third [in a series]
• The English word lilac comes, via French, from the Arabic word lilak, ultimately traceable to Sanskrit nila (dark blue).

• 慈善服务团体
• [ Traditional: 慈善服務團體 ]
• Ci2shan4 Fu2wu4 Tuan2ti3
• Philanthropic Service Organization
• 1. on Jayne's blue T-shirt with pictures of people, somewhat visible during cargo bay clean-up with Kaylee
• 2. on same shirt in a Universal Studios photo (full size), taken with permission from the Extras page of Foxytime's For a Rainy Day site

• ci2shan4: philanthropic, charitable; ci2 compassionate, benevolent; shan4 charitable, kind
• fu2wu4: service; fu2 serve; wu4 business, affairs
• tuan2ti3: organization, group/body of people; tuan2 organization, group/body of people; ti3 body

• 茶
• Cha2
• Tea
• on yellow banner in Beaumonde street scene

• cha2: tea

See also:

• "The Message"

• 好吃   甜
• Hao3chi1; Tian2
• Tasty; Sweet
• on monitor, in Fruity Oaty Bar commercial shown in Maidenhead tavern

• hao3chi1: tasty, good to eat; hao3 good; chi1 eat
• tian2: sweet

See also:

• Serenity Elsewhere: DVD

• 玩闹
• [ Traditional: 玩鬧 ]
• Wan2nao4
• {Troublemaker}
• 1. on Jayne's yellow T-shirt with picture of pistol, visible during Battle of Serenity argument
• 2. on same shirt in photo on BlackFilm.com
• 3. on same shirt in the second American trailer

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

See also:

• "Jaynestown"
• "The Message"

• 丐
• Gai4
• {?}
• above vertical line on storage locker's door jamb, visible as Jayne goes to get River

• gai4: [literary] beg

• 死
• Si3
• Dead
• 1. on Jayne's rust-colored shirt with fish skeleton, visible during Mal's speech
• 2. on actor Adam Baldwin's white Jayne T-shirt with fish skeleton, in Dragon*Con 2004 picture by fireflygal on Haken's Firefly Fans.net [close-up by TenthCrewMember]

• si3: to die, dead
• (2) was also said to have 简 [ Trad. 簡 ] jian3: Jayne [phonetic; [literally] simple, brief] on the back. See TenthCrewMember's image on Firefly Fans.net.

• 警告： 炸藥彈頭
• [ Simplified: 警告： 炸药弹头 ]
• Jing3gao4: Zha4yao4 Dan4tou2
• Warning: Explosives Bullets
• on metal box, partially visible to right of Zoe's head when Mal returns from broadwaving

• jing3gao4: warn; jing3 warn; gao4 to report, notify
• zha4yao4: dynamite, an explosive; zha4 explode; yao4 certain chemicals, [literally] medicine
• dan4tou2: bullet; dan4 bullet; tou2 suffix, [literally] head

Related Expression(s):

• Jing3gao4 ("Ariel")
• Jing3bao4; Dai4bu3zheng4; Tong2meng2 ("Objects in Space")

• 囍
• [ special doubled form of 喜 xi3: happiness ]
• xi3
• marital bliss
• on Kaylee's necklace, visible at funeral

• xi3: marital bliss

Related Expression(s):

• Xi3 Shou4 {Lu4} ("Serenity, Part 1," "Our Mrs. Reynolds")

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

Serenity Novelization

Chinese Dialog

NOTE: Most of the Chinese that is merely described in Keith R. A. DeCandido's Serenity novelization can be found in the entries for Serenity Movie.

• Zao1gao1! [THOUGHT]
• 糟糕！・糟糕！
• "Tzao-gao!"
• Damn it! [from "War Stories" script]
• Mal (p. 10), as skiff plummets toward him

• zao1gao1: [colloquial] Damn!, What a mess!; zao1 ruined, [literally and figuratively] spoiled; gao1 cake, pudding

See also:

• "Bushwhacked"
• "War Stories"
• Serenity Novelization [below]

• gou3shi3 [THOUGHT]
• 狗屎・狗屎
• "go-se"
• crap [from "Shindig" script]
• Mal (p. 44), describing technical jargon

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

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")

• dong3 le5 ma5?
• 懂了嗎？・懂了吗？
• "dong le ma?"
• Are we clear here? [from Serenity Movie script]
• Mal (p. 52), to Simon to end argument

• dong3 le5 ma5: understood?; dong3 understand; le5 completion marker; ma5 question marker

Related Expression(s):

• Dong3 le5 ma5? Ni3 chou2lian3, you3 mei2you3? (Serenity Movie)
• Dong3 ma5? ("The Train Job," "Out of Gas," "The Message," "Heart of Gold")

• chou4 ma3-niao4 [THOUGHT]
• 臭馬尿・臭马尿
• "chou ma niao"
• stinking horse-urine
• Jayne (p. 58), about unimpressive Lilac

• chou4: stinking, [slang] inferior
• ma3-niao4: horse urine; ma3 horse; niao4 urine
• This phrase comes from the fandom. Early on, some fans translated the "shiong mao" of "shiong mao niao" ("panda urine," "Jaynestown") as chou4 ma3- (stinking horse-) instead of xiong2mao1 (panda).

Related Expression(s):

• niao4 shi1 de5 du3gui3 ("Heart of Gold")
• xiong2mao1 niao4 ("Jaynestown")

• Bai4tuo1, an1jing4 yi1dian3!
• 拜托，安靜一點！・拜托，安静一点！
• "Bai duo [sic] , an jing yidian!"
• We will enjoy your silence now! [from Serenity Movie script]
• Professor Rao (p. 65), to disruptive student Marvin

• bai4tuo1: [courteous] to request [of someone], [colloquial] please I beg you, [Taiwan fixed expression] Give me a break!; bai4 to bow, show deference; tuo1 request a favor, entrust
• an1jing4: [be] quiet; an1 tranquil, peaceful; jing4 calm, still
• yi1dian3: a little; yi1 [shifts to yi4 before a 3rd-tone syllable] a, one; dian3 [measure word for small amounts], [literally] a spot, dot

See also:

• Serenity Movie

• Ren2ci2 de5 Shang4di4, qing3 dai4 wo3 zou3
• 仁慈的上帝，請帶我走・仁慈的上帝，请带我走
• "Renzi [sic] de Shang Di, qing dai wa [sic] zhou [sic]"
• Merciful God please take me away [from Serenity Movie script]
• River (p. 207), as she is psychically overwhelmed on Miranda

• ren2ci2 de5 Shang4di4: merciful God; ren2ci2 de5 merciful, benevolent (ren2 compassionate, benevolence; ci2 compassionate, benevolent; de5 adjective marker); Shang4di4 God (shang4 a superior; di4 God, Supreme Being)
• qing3 dai4 wo3 zou3: please take me away; qing3 please; dai4 take, carry; wo3 me; zou3 go away

See also:

• Serenity Movie

Related Expression(s):

• Ren2ci2 de5 Fo2zu3 . . . ("Our Mrs. Reynolds")
• Ren2ci2 de5 Fo2zu3, qing3 bao3you4 wo3men5 . . . (Serenity Movie)

• Wo3 xiang3 mei4 er3, mei4 xin1, bian4 shi2tou5
• 我想昧耳，昧心，變石頭・我想昧耳，昧心，变石头
• "Wo shang mei er, mei xin, bian shi tou"
• I will close my ears and my heart and I will be a stone [from Serenity Movie script]
• River (p. 207), continuing to pray in Chinese after breaking into English

• wo3 xiang3 mei4 er3, mei4 xin1: I wish to darken my ears and my heart; wo3 I; xiang3 to wish，want to; mei4 darken, to hide; er3 ear; mei4 darken, to hide; xin1 heart, the mind [mei4xin1 ignore one's conscience]
• bian4 shi2tou5: become a stone; bian4 become, be transformed; shi2tou5 stone, rock (shi2 stone, rock; tou2 head)
• Another possibility: 我想沒耳沒心・我想没耳没心 wo3 xiang3 mei2 er3 mei2 xin1 I wish to have no ears or heart [mei2xin1 be mindless], also proposed by Chrysocome on the Serenity Oz message boards

See also:

• Serenity Movie

• Zao1gao1! [THOUGHT; AGAIN]
• 糟糕！・糟糕！
• "Tzao-gao!"
• Damn it! [from "War Stories" script]
• Mal (p. 242), when he's stabbed

• zao1gao1: [colloquial] Damn!, What a mess!; zao1 ruined, [literally and figuratively] spoiled; gao1 cake, pudding

See also:

• "Bushwhacked"
• "War Stories"
• Serenity Novelization [above]

• gou3shi3 [THOUGHT; AGAIN]
• 狗屎・狗屎
• "go-se"
• crap [from "Shindig" script]
• Jayne (p. 244), about Mr. Universe's unimpressive moon

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

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")

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Visible Chinese

• 宁静
• [ Traditional: 寧靜 ]
• Ning2jing4
• "Serenity"
• in movie logo, on title page

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

See also:

• Serenity #1–3 Comics
• Serenity Movie
• Serenity Elsewhere: Serenity: The Official Visual Companion

Related Expression(s):

• An1ning2 (Serenity Elsewhere: Serenity: The Official Visual Companion)
• 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)

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Serenity Elsewhere

Chinese Dialog

• Wo3 hen3 {diu1lian3}. Wo3 mei2you3 chi1 Fruity Oaty Bar.
• 我很丟臉。我沒有吃Fruity Oaty Bar。・我很丢脸。我没有吃Fruity Oaty Bar。
• Wuo hun {diou lyen}. Wuo may yo chr Fruity Oaty Bar. [The Shamed Gentleman sounds like Wuo hun diao nyen. Wuo may yo chr Fruity Oaty Bar.]
• I am very ashamed. I didn't eat a Fruity Oaty Bar.
• Shamed Gentleman, in Easter egg ("We'll Have a Fruity Oaty Good Time"), in Fruity Oaty Bar commercial

• wo3 hen3 diu1lian3: I am very ashamed; wo3 I; hen3 very, very much; diu1lian3 feel ashamed, [literally] lose face (diu1 lose; lian3 face)
• wo3 mei2you3 chi1: I didn't eat; wo3 I; mei2you3 not have, did not (mei2 negative verb-prefix; you3 have, there is); chi1 eat
• Fruity Oaty Bar: Fruity Oaty Bar
• Thanks to Craig Kurumada for the suggested translation.

See also:

• Serenity Movie

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Visible Chinese

DVD

• 开始播放   任选场景   特别收錄   选择语言
• [ Traditional: 開始播放   任選場景   特别收錄   選擇語言 ; 錄 is traditional for 录 ]
• Kai1shi3 Bo1fang4; Ren4xuan3 Chang3jing3; Te4bie2 Shou1lu4; Xuan3ze2 Yu3yan2
• "Play"; "Scenes"; "Bonus Material"; "Languages"
• on main menu

• kai1shi3 bo1fang4: start transmission; kai1shi3 start (kai1 start; shi3 a beginning); bo1fang4 transmit (bo1 broadcast; fang4 release)
• ren4xuan3 chang3jing3: select a scene; ren4xuan3 select one (ren4 any; xuan3 select); chang3jing3 scene (chang3 scene, stage; jing3 a sight)
• te4bie2 shou1lu4: special inclusions; te4bie2 special (te4 special; bie2 other); shou1lu4 include in a collection (shou1 incorporate; lu4 selections)
• xuan3ze2 yu3yan2: select language; xuan3ze2 select (xuan3 select; ze2 select); yu3yan2 spoken language (yu3 language; yan2 [spoken] language)

• 好吃   甜
• Hao3chi1; Tian2
• Tasty; Sweet
• in Easter egg ("We'll Have a Fruity Oaty Good Time"), in Fruity Oaty Bar commercial

• hao3chi1: tasty, good to eat; hao3 good; chi1 eat
• tian2: sweet

See also:

• Serenity Movie

• 香蕉   金橘   鳳梨
• [ Simplified: 香蕉   金橘   凤梨 ]
• Xiang1jiao1; Jin1ju2; Feng4li2
• Banana; Kumquat; Pineapple
• in Easter egg ("We'll Have a Fruity Oaty Good Time"), in Fruity Oaty Bar commercial

• xiang1jiao1: banana; xiang1 fragrant; jiao1 banana
• jin1ju2: kumquat; jin1 golden; ju2 an orange
• feng4li2: pineapple; feng4 phoenix; li2 pear

Serenity: The Official Visual Companion

• 安寧
• [ Simplified: 安宁 ]
• An1ning2
• "Serenity"
• 1. on front cover, near Mal's chin
• 2. The an1 is visible in background, right side, of the official Serenity movie one-sheet ad, here and on the Special Ops Media site

• an1ning2: tranquil, peaceful; an1 tranquil, peaceful; ning2 tranquil, peaceful

Related Expression(s):

• Ning2jing4 (Serenity #1–3 Comics, Serenity Movie, Serenity Elsewhere: Serenity: The Official Visual Companion [below])
• Ping2an1 (Serenity Elsewhere: Official Site [USA])

• 宁静
• [ Traditional: 寧靜 ]
• Ning2jing4
• "Serenity"
• in movie logo, throughout book

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

See also:

• Serenity #1–3 Comics
• Serenity Movie

Related Expression(s):

• An1ning2 (Serenity Elsewhere: Serenity: The Official Visual Companion [above])
• 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)

• 銀行
• [ Simplified: 银行 ]
• yin2hang2
• bank
• on Alliance paper money
• p. 13, 14 [also in image by fan/movie-extra Girlie on Haken's Firefly Fans.net]

• yin2hang2: bank; yin2 money-related, [literally] silver; hang2 a shop, firm

• 丸临
• [ Traditional: 丸臨 ]
• Wan2 Lin2
• [gibberish]
• p. 57-59, on hovercraft mule

• wan2: pill, small ball
• lin2: at the time of
• They seem to be using it to mean "danger" because it often appears with the Hindi word () and the Arabic word () for that. In the series they used 危 wei1: danger.

See also:

• Serenity Movie

• 如果你不买这本书你的朋友们要觉得你是一个笨天生的一堆肉
• [ Traditional: 如果你不買這本書你的朋友們要覺得你是一個笨天生的一堆肉 ]
• Ru2guo3 ni3 bu4 mai3 zhe4 ben3 shu1 ni3 de5 peng3you5men5 yao4 jue2de5 ni3 shi4 yi1 ge5 ben4 tian1sheng1 de5 yi1 dui1 rou4
• If you don't buy this book, your friends will think you're a stupid inbred stack of meat.
• on back cover

• ru2guo3 ni3 bu4 mai3 zhe4 ben3 shu1: if you don't buy this book; ru2guo3 if (ru2 if; guo3 if, [literally] fruit); ni3 you [singular]; bu4 not; mai3 buy; zhe4 ben3 this [bound matter] (zhe4 this; ben3 measure word for books/magazines/etc.); shu1 book
• ni3 de5 peng3you5men5 yao4 jue2de5 ni3 shi4: your friends will think you are; ni3 de5 your (ni3 you [singular]; de5 possessive marker); peng3you5men5 friends (peng3you5 friend [peng2 friend; you3 friend]; men5 plural suffix); yao4 will; jue2de5 think, feel (jue2 feel; de2 -able); ni3 you [singular]; shi4 be
• yi1 ge5 ben4 tian1sheng1 de5 yi1 dui1 rou4: a stupid inbred stack of meat; yi1 ge5 a (yi1 one; ge5 a, one); ben4 stupid, clumsy; tian1sheng1 de5 innate, inbred (tian1 nature-given, God, heaven; sheng1 give birth to, be born; de5 adjective marker); yi1 dui1 rou4 stack of meat (yi1 dui1 a stack of [yi1 [shifts to yi4 before a 1st-tone syllable] a, one; dui1 a stack, pile]; rou4 meat, flesh)
• This is presumably a reference to Saffron's line to Monty in the Firefly episode "Trash": "BUN tyen-shung duh ee-DWAY-RO." (Ben4 tian1sheng1 de5 yi1 dui1 rou4.).

Official Site (USA)

• 在剧院九月三十日
• [ Traditional: 在劇院九月三十日 ]
• Zai4 Ju4yuan4 Jiu3yue4 San1shi2ri4
• "In Theaters September 30th"
• in wallpapers on the Downloads page

• zai4 ju4yuan4: in theaters; zai4 [be] in, at; ju4yuan4 theater (ju4 theatrical play, drama; yuan4 public building)
• Jiu3yue4: September; jiu3 nine; yue4 month
• San1shi2ri4: 30th [day of month]; san1shi2 thirty (san1 three; shi2 ten); ri4 day

• 平安
• Ping2an1
• Serenity
• in wallpapers on the Downloads page

• ping2an1: peace, peaceful, quiet and stable; ping2 calm, peaceful; an1 tranquil, peaceful

Related Expression(s):

• An1ning2 (Serenity Elsewhere: Serenity: The Official Visual Companion)
• Jing3wei4; Ping2jing4 (Firefly Elsewhere: Cast and Crew Stuff)
• Ping2 ("Jaynestown")
• Ping2jing4 ("Serenity, Part 1," "The Train Job," "Safe," "The Message," Firefly Elsewhere: Press Kit)

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