W

Wa1!

• Simplified/Traditional characters: 哇！
• Back-translation of Mandarin: Wow!
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): Wah!
• Translated from script English: Wow!
• Context: “Shindig” [Cut], Mal, reaction to hearing about Atherton’s non-marriage proposal to Inara

wa1

[exclamation of surprise], Wah!, Wow!

Wang2ba5dan4—

• Simplified/Traditional characters: 王八蛋——
• Back-translation of Mandarin: S.O.B.s--
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): Wang bao DAHN -- [sic]
• Translated from script English: Dirty bastard sons-of --
• Context: “Heart of Gold,” Nandi, referring to Rance’s man who just shot her male prostitute

wang2ba5dan4

[colloquial] [severe insult] [offensive] an S.O.B.; [literally: a turtle’s egg]

1. wang2ba5: [severe insult] [offensive] an S.O.B., a cuckold; [literally: a tortoise]
   1. wang2: a king
   2. ba1: eight
2. dan4: [word used in insults of people]; [literally: an egg]

Wang2ba5dan4 de5 biao3zi5.

• Simplified/Traditional characters: 王八蛋的婊子。
• Back-translation of Mandarin: Whore of an S.O.B.
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): Wahg-ba DAN duh biao-tze. [sic (see Note 1 below)]
• Translated from script English: Son of a mother's whore.
• Context: “Trash,” Saffron, addressing cops

wang2ba5dan4 de5 biao3zi5

an S.O.B.’s whore, a whore of an S.O.B.

1. wang2ba5dan4 de5: S.O.B.’s, of an S.O.B.
   1. wang2ba5dan4: [colloquial] [severe insult] [offensive] an S.O.B.; [literally: a turtle’s egg]
      1. wang2ba5: [severe insult] [offensive] an S.O.B., a cuckold; [literally: a tortoise]
         1. wang2: a king
         2. ba1: eight
      2. dan4: [word used in insults of people]; [literally: an egg]
   2. de5: [noun-modifier marker] [here: possessive (genitive), ’s, of]
2. biao3zi5: [insult] [offensive] a whore
   1. biao3 [used only in compound words]: a prostitute
   2. zi5: [suffix to make noun two syllables]

Wei4!

• Simplified/Traditional characters: 喂！
• Back-translation of Mandarin: Hey!
• 1. Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): Way!
• Translated from script English: Hey!
• Context: “Shindig,” Wright (the slaver), reaction to pool-ball failure
• 2. Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): Way!
• Translated from script English: Hey!
• Context: “Shindig,” Wright (the slaver), reaction to Mal’s pickpocketing of him

wei4

Hey!

wen2guo5 pi4

• Simplified characters: 闻过屁 / Traditional characters: 聞過屁
• Back-translation of Mandarin: smelled a fart
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): wun gwo pee
• Translated from script English: smelled a fart
• Context: “Shindig,” Badger, referring to what Sir Warrick acts like he’s never done

wen2guo5 pi4

smelled a fart

1. wen2guo5: smelled
   1. wen2: to smell (something)
   2. guo5: [completed-action marker]
2. pi4: a fart

Wo3 de5 ma1.

• Simplified characters: 我的妈。 / Traditional characters: 我的媽。
• Back-translation of Mandarin: My God.
• 1. Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): Wuh de ma.
• Translated from script English: Mother of god.
• Context: “Bushwhacked,” Jayne, upon seeing derelict ship
• 2. 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!]

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

Wo3 de5 ma1 he2 ta1 de5 feng1kuang2 de5 wai4sheng5 dou1

• Simplified characters: 我的妈和她的疯狂的外甥都 / Traditional characters: 我的媽和她的瘋狂的外甥都
• Back-translation of Mandarin: My God and all her crazy nephews (sister’s sons) [see Note 1 below]
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): Wuh duh ma huh tah duh fong kwong duh wai shung [sic (see Note 2 below)]
• Translated from script English: Holy mother of god and all her wacky nephews
• Context: “Our Mrs. Reynolds,” Wash, response to Saffron’s advances

wo3 de5 ma1

My God!; [literally: My mother!]

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

he2

and [for joining nouns not clauses]

ta1 de5 feng1kuang2 de5 wai4sheng5 dou1

all her crazy nephews (sister’s sons) [see Note 2 below]

1. ta1 de5: her [possessive]
   1. ta1: she
   2. de5: [noun-modifier marker] [here: possessive (genitive), ’s, of]
2. feng1kuang2 de5: to be crazy, to be insane
   1. feng1: to be crazy, to be insane
   2. kuang2: to be crazy, to be insane
   3. de5: [noun-modifier marker] [here: integrated adjectival clause (restrictive relative clause)]
3. wai4sheng5: a nephew (sister’s son) [see Note 2 below]
   1. wai4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: on mother’s/sister’s side; [literally: outside]
   2. sheng1 [used only in compound words]: a nephew/niece (sister’s child)
4. dou1: all

Wo3 de5 tian1, a5.

• Simplified/Traditional characters: 我的天啊。
• Back-translation of Mandarin: Oh my God.
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): Wuh de tyen, ah.
• Translated from script English: Dear God in heaven.
• Context: “Bushwhacked,” Mal, upon learning of Reaver survivor’s mutilation

wo3 de5 tian1, a5

[colloquial] Oh my God!

1. wo3 de5 tian1: [colloquial] Oh my God!
   1. wo3 de5: my
      1. wo3: I
      2. de5: [noun-modifier marker] [here: possessive (genitive), ’s, of]
   2. tian1: heaven, God
2. a5: [marker of direct address of someone (vocative) or exclamation], ah

Wo3 dui4 ni3 bu4 wen2 bu4 jian4…

• Simplified characters: 我对你不闻不见…… / Traditional characters: 我對你不聞不見……
• Back-translation of Mandarin: I don’t hear and don’t see you...
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): Wuo DWAY-nee BOO-woon, boo-JEN...
• Translated from script English: I neither see nor hear you...
• Context: Serenity (movie) [Cut], Woman (on Beaumonde), in reply to Man’s proposition [also described in Serenity (novelization), p. 103]

wo3 dui4 ni3

I in regard to you

1. wo3: I
2. dui4: toward, in regard to
3. ni3: you (singular)

bu4 wen2 bu4 jian4

don’t hear and don’t see

1. bu4: not
2. wen2: [Literary Chinese] = ting1 听 (traditional: 聽 ): [vernacular Mandarin] to hear
3. bu4 [pronounced “bu2” before a 4th-tone syllable]: not
4. jian4: to see

Wo3 hen3 diu1lian3. Wo3 mei2you3 chi1 Fruity Oaty Bar.

• Traditional characters: 我很丟臉。我沒有吃Fruity Oaty Bar。 / Simplified characters: 我很丢脸。我没有吃Fruity Oaty Bar。
• Back-translation of Mandarin: I am very ashamed. I didn’t eat a Fruity Oaty Bar.
• 1. Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): [(Not in script) Wuo hun dio lyen. Wuo may yo chr Fruity Oaty Bar.]
• Translated from script English: [Not in script]
• Context: Serenity (movie), Shamed Gentleman (off-screen), in Fruity Oaty Bar commercial shown in Beaumonde’s The Maidenhead bar
• 2. Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): [(Not in script) Wuo hun dio lyen. Wuo may yo chr Fruity Oaty Bar.]
• Translated from script English: [Not in script]
• Context: Serenity DVD, 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

1. wo3: I
2. hen3: very much
3. diu1lian3: to feel ashamed; [literally: to lose face]
   1. diu1: to lose (misplace)
   2. lian3: a face

wo3 mei2you3 chi1

I did not eat, I have not eaten

1. wo3: I
2. mei2you3: did not [+verb], have not [+verb as if past participle]
   1. mei2: not
   2. you3: to have, there is
3. chi1: to eat

Fruity Oaty Bar

[name of a fictional packaged food product]

Wo3 tai4tai5 bu4 piao4liang5!

• Simplified/Traditional characters: 我太太不漂亮！
• Back-translation of Mandarin: My wife is not beautiful!
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): Wo TAI-TAI boo PEOW-liang!
• Translated from script English: My wife is not pretty!
• Context: Serenity (movie) [Cut], Wash, in reply to Man (on Beaumonde)’s proposition to Zoe [also described in Serenity (novelization), p. 104]

wo3 tai4tai5

my wife

1. wo3 de5: my
   1. wo3: I
   2. [understood: de5 的 : [noun-modifier marker] [here: possessive (genitive), ’s, of]]
2. tai4tai5: [meaning borrowed from non-Mandarin Chinese] a wife
   1. tai4: [repeated with neutral 5th tone] grand, great

bu4 piao4liang5

to be not beautiful

1. bu4 [pronounced “bu2” before a 4th-tone syllable]: not
2. piao4liang5: to be beautiful, to be handsome
   1. piao4 [used only in the compound word piao4liang5]
   2. liang4: to be bright, to be light

Wo3 xiang3 mei4 er3, mei4 xin1, bian4 shi2tou5

• Simplified characters: 我想昧耳，昧心，变石头 / Traditional characters: 我想昧耳，昧心，變石頭
• Back-translation of Mandarin: I want to darken my ears and heart and become a stone [see note below]
• 1. Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): WUOshang mayer, maysheen, BYEN shr-to
• Translated from script English: I will close my ears and my heart and I will be a stone
• Context: Serenity (movie), River, continuing to pray in Chinese after breaking into English
• 2. Novelization Mandarin translation (Hanyu Pinyin romanization): Wo shang mei er, mei xin, bian shi tou
• Translated from script English: I will close my ears and my heart and I will be a stone [from Serenity (movie) script]
• Context: Serenity (novelization), River, p. 207, continuing to pray in Chinese after breaking into English

wo3 xiang3 mei4 er3, mei4 xin1

I want to darken my ears and heart [see note below]

1. wo3 xiang3: I want to
   1. wo3: I
   2. xiang3: to wish, to want to
2. mei4 er3, mei4 xin1: to darken ears and heart
   1. mei4 er3: to darken ear(s)
      1. mei4: to darken, to hide (something)
      2. er3: ear
   2. mei4 xin1: to darken a heart [also mei4xin1: to ignore one’s conscience]
      1. mei4: to darken, to hide (something)
      2. xin1: a heart, the mind

bian4 shi2tou5

to become a stone

1. bian4: to become, to be transformed
2. shi2tou5: a stone, a rock
   1. shi2: a stone, a rock
   2. tou5: [noun suffix]

Wo3 zai4 qian2shi4 yi1ding4 re3dao4 shen2me5 ren2 le5 ba5…

• Comics Mandarin translation (simplified characters): 我在前世一定惹到什么人了吧… / Traditional characters: 我在前世一定惹到什麼人了吧…
• Back-translation of Mandarin: I surely annoyed someone or other in a past life, didn’t I...
• Phonetic for English speakers: Wuh tzai chien shr ee-ding ruh dao shuh-muh run luh bah...
• Context: Serenity: Those Left Behind #3, Mal, p. 16, on seeing Blue Glove ship

wo3 zai4 qian2shi4

I was in a past life

1. wo3: I
2. zai4: to live, to exist
3. qian2shi4: [Buddhism] a past life, a former incarnation
   1. qian2: former, preceding
   2. shi4 [used only in compound words (or as a family name)]: a life, an incarnation

yi1ding4

surely, certainly

1. yi1 [for this meaning, used only in compound words; pronounced “yi2” before a 4th-tone syllable]: all
2. ding4: definite, certainly

re3dao4

to annoy / to provoke (focus on result/goal)

1. re3: to annoy / to provoke (focus on action)
2. dao4: [end-result marker]

shen2me5 ren2

someone or other

1. shen2me5 [usually pronounced “she2me5”]: some or other
   1. shen2 [used only in the compound word shen2me5]
   2. me5: [suffix for question words]
2. ren2: a person

le5

[completion marker]

ba5

[tag-question marker]

Wo3 zhe4ge5 shen1zi5 bu4 shi4 yong4lai2 wei4 Reavers de5!

• Simplified characters: 我这个身子不是用来喂Reavers的！ / Comics Mandarin translation (traditional characters): 我這個身子不是用來喂Reavers的！
• Back-translation of Mandarin: This body of mine isn’t going to be used to feed Reavers!
• Phonetic for English speakers: Wuh juh-guh shen-tze boo-shr yong-lai way Reavers duh!
• Context: Serenity: The Other Half, Jayne, p. 1, as Reavers attack them

wo3 zhe4ge5 shen1zi5

this body of mine

1. wo3 de5: my
   1. wo3: I
   2. [understood: de5 的 : [noun-modifier marker] [here: possessive (genitive), ’s, of]]
2. zhe4ge5 shen1zi5: this body
   1. zhe4ge5: this, this one
      1. zhe4: this
      2. ge5: [general classifier for nouns]
   2. shen1zi5: a body
      1. shen1 [used only in compound words (or as a classifier for certain nouns)]: a body
      2. zi5: [suffix to make noun two syllables]

bu4 shi4 yong4lai2 wei4 Reavers de5

not to be used to feed Reavers

1. bu4 shi4: to not be
   1. bu4 [pronounced “bu2” before a 4th-tone syllable]: not
   2. shi4: to be
2. yong4lai2: for use (as), to be used for
   1. yong4: to use
   2. lai2: [verb suffix for ability or hypothetical action]
3. wei4: to feed
4. de5: [assertion marker]