Firefly Press Kit

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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Visible Chinese

[Images posted on Akinius’s Flickr set and formerly posted (including other items) on Ackerdackerly’s site (ackerdackerly.com/blue-sun/artifacts.html) and by Dockingbay97 on Haken’s Firefly Fans.net [images removed from hosting service]]

[Image: logo]

Tai4kong1

Simplified/Traditional characters: 太空
Back-translation of Mandarin: Outer Space
Context: Firefly Press Kit, Visible Chinese, on sticker on top of crate, in logo for TG Freight [see note below]

tai4kong1

outer space

tai4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: great, grand
kong1 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: the sky, space

Note:

TG Freight: Perhaps someone meant TK for tai4kong1 太空 but used TG due to incorrectly thinking the second syllable changed from (Wade–Giles romanization) kung1 to modern (Hanyu Pinyin romanization) gong1 in the way that kung1fu5 changed to gong1fu5 ( 功夫 : kung fu).

The initial sound of gong1 isn’t voiced (i.e., unlike the initial sound of the English word gill); it’s an unvoiced sound without a puff of air (unaspirated), like the second consonant sound of the English word skill. But 太空 went from t’ai4k’ung1 to tai4kong1 for an initial, unvoiced sound with a puff of air (aspirated), like the initial sound of the English word kill.

See also:

Tai4kong1 (“Serenity, Part 1,” “Bushwhacked”)

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: Firefly Press Kit, Visible Chinese, on sticker on top of crate with drawing of the ship Serenity and To a Fellow Independent

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,” “Safe”)

Ha-Ra-Sa Ko-Su-Ra-Chi-Shi-So-Chi-To-Ka-Ni-Mi-Ki; Se-Ru-Ra-Ru Ko-Ra-Sa Yo-Wa-Wa; Ko-I-Hi-I-Su-Ri-N Ku-Ni-Ri-Ri-To-Ne So-Chi Yo-Wa-Fu-Nu-A-Ho-Wa-Yo-Wa-Wa [Not Chinese]

Japanese characters: ハラサコスラチシソチトカニミキセルラルコラサヨワワコイヒイスリンクニリリトネソチヨワフヌアホワヨワワ
Encrypted from the English: [substitution code (Japanese code details): fox broadcasting; p.o. box 900; beverly hills, ca 90213-0900]
Context: Firefly Press Kit, Visible Chinese, on sticker on top of crate with drawing of the ship Serenity and To a Fellow Independent

Japanese Code

Ha-Ra-Sa Ko-Su-Ra-Chi-Shi-So-Chi-To-Ka-Ni-Mi-Ki; Se-Ru-Ra-Ru Ko-Ra-Sa Yo-Wa-Wa; Ko-I-Hi-I-Su-Ri-N Ku-Ni-Ri-Ri-To-Ne So-Chi Yo-Wa-Fu-Nu-A-Ho-Wa-Yo-Wa-Wa

[substitution code (Japanese code details): Fox Broadcasting [see note below]; P.O. Box 900; Beverly Hills, CA 90213-0900]

Note:

Fox Broadcasting Company: The English included the word company on the sticker, but it wasn’t put into the code of Japanese katakana. It would be ソラモセチミン So-Ra-Mo-Se-Chi-Mi-N.

Qian1

Simplified/Traditional characters: 蚈 [obscure character]
Back-translation of Mandarin: Firefly
Translated from the English: Firefly [old version (see note below)]
Context: Firefly Press Kit, Visible Chinese, on sticker on top of crate and on letter from Mal

qian1

[archaic] a firefly [see note below]

Note:

Modern term: ying2huo3chong2 萤火虫 (traditional: 螢火蟲 ): a firefly, a glowworm; ying2 [used only in compound words]: a firefly, a glowworm; huo3: fire [noun]; chong2: an insect, a worm [used on cast-and-crew T-shirt; see: Firefly Cast-and-Crew Stuff]

See also:

Qian1 (“Serenity, Part 2,” “Safe,” “Our Mrs. Reynolds,” “Objects in Space”)

Jin4

Simplified characters: 劲 / Traditional characters: 勁
Back-translation of Mandarin: Energy
Context: Firefly Press Kit, Visible Chinese, on sticker on side of crate with Super Food in stylized letters [the bottom, English, part is also visible in “Serenity, Part 1” at the Eavesdown docks as Book meets Kaylee for first time]

jin4

[colloquial] vigor, energy

Note:

Also: jing4 劲 (traditional: 勁 ) [used only in compound words]: powerful, sturdy

Ri-Ra-So-No-Ho-Shi-Ra-Te-Mi Te-Ku-I-Mi Ni-Mi Chi-Mi-Ka-Ni-Ho-Ki-Su-Chi-Hi-Ni-Ka-N [Not Chinese]

Japanese characters: リラソノホシラテミテクイミニミチミカニホキスチヒニカン
Encrypted from the English: [substitution code (Japanese code details): Lock-Down [sic] when in Anti-Gravity]
Context: Firefly Press Kit, Visible Chinese, on sticker on side of crate

Japanese Code

Ri-Ra-So-No-Ho-Shi-Ra-Te-Mi Te-Ku-I-Mi Ni-Mi Chi-Mi-Ka-Ni-Ho-Ki-Su-Chi-Hi-Ni-Ka-N

[substitution code (Japanese code details): lock-down [sic] when in anti-gravity]

Zhu4cang2! Bu4xu3 Cheng2ke4!

Simplified characters: 贮藏！不许乘客！ / Traditional characters: 貯藏！不許乘客！
Back-translation of Mandarin: Storage! Passengers Not Allowed!
Translated from the English: Storage Only! Passengers Prohibited!
Context: Firefly Press Kit, Visible Chinese, on sticker on side of crate with Zhucang! Buxu Chengke! and future international symbol for No Passengers [standing and sitting people in red hexagon and backslash ( \ ) through it]

zhu4cang2

to store up, to keep in a storehouse, storage

zhu4 [used only in compound words]: to store
cang2: to store

bu4xu3 cheng2ke4

passengers not allowed

bu4xu3: to not allow
1. bu4: not
2. xu3: to permit, to allow
cheng2ke4: a passenger
1. cheng2: to ride
2. ke4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: a passenger, a traveler

See also:

Zhu4cang2! Bu4xu3 Cheng2ke4! (“The Train Job”)

Tong2meng2 [#1]

Simplified/Traditional characters: 同盟
Back-translation of Mandarin: Alliance
Translated from the English: Alliance
Context: Firefly Press Kit, Visible Chinese, on front of star map

tong2meng2

an alliance

tong2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: together, in common
meng2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: an alliance

See also:

Jing3bao4; Dai4bu3zheng4; Tong2meng2 (“Objects in Space”)
Tong2meng2 (“Serenity, Part 1”; “The Train Job”; “Bushwhacked”; “Safe”; Firefly: The Official Companion, Volume One; Firefly Press Kit [below])
Tong2meng2 Gong1gong4 Cai2chan3 (Firefly Press Kit)

Se-Ri-Chi-Mi-I-Ka-Chi-Su-N Mi-I-Ko-Na-Ri-Chi Mi-Ki-So A-Fu-U-Fu; Mo-Chi-Se [Not Chinese]

Japanese characters: セリチミイカチスンミイコナリチミキソアフウフモチセ
Encrypted from the English: [substitution code (Japanese code details): Planetary Nebula NGC 3242; Map]
Context: Firefly Press Kit, Visible Chinese, on front of star map

Japanese Code

Se-Ri-Chi-Mi-I-Ka-Chi-Su-N Mi-I-Ko-Na-Ri-Chi Mi-Ki-So A-Fu-U-Fu; Mo-Chi-Se

[substitution code (Japanese code details): planetary nebula NGC 3242; map]

Note:

Planetary nebula NGC 3242 is a real Blue Sun about 1,400 light years from Earth. A planetary nebula is the outer layers of gasses shed from a dying star (too low-mass to go supernova) as the star evolves from a red giant to a white dwarf. NGC 3242 (NGC = New General Catalogue of Nebulae and Clusters of Stars) is nicknamed the Ghost of Jupiter because it resembles the planet Jupiter. It is observable in the constellation Hydra and looks blue.

More on NGC 3242: U.S. National Optical Astronomy Observatory: Best Images of the Advanced Observing Program: NGC 3242

More on planetary nebula: “Planetary nebula and the future of the solar system” (Bruce Balick, Ph.D.)

Tong2meng2 Gong1gong4 Cai2chan3

Simplified characters: 同盟公共财产 / Traditional characters: 同盟公共財產
Back-translation of Mandarin: Alliance Public-Property
Translated from the English: Alliance Property
Context: Firefly Press Kit, Visible Chinese, on front of star map and on sticker on rations

tong2meng2

an alliance

tong2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: together, in common
meng2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: an alliance

gong1gong4 cai2chan3

public property

gong1gong4: public [+NOUN]
1. gong1 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: public [+NOUN]
2. gong4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: communal
cai2chan3: property
1. cai2 [used only in compound words]: wealth, goods
2. chan3 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: property

See also:

Jing3bao4; Dai4bu3zheng4; Tong2meng2 (“Objects in Space”)
Tong2meng2 (“Serenity, Part 1”; “The Train Job”; “Bushwhacked”; “Safe”; Firefly: The Official Companion, Volume One; Firefly Press Kit)

Tong2meng2 [#2]

Simplified/Traditional characters: 同盟
Back-translation of Mandarin: Alliance
Translated from the English: [(Not shown) Alliance (from Firefly Press Kit star map)]
Translated from the English: [Alliance (Not shown; from Firefly Press Kit star map)]
Context: Firefly Press Kit, Visible Chinese, on Mal’s intergalactic pilot license

tong2meng2

an alliance

tong2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: together, in common
meng2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: an alliance

See also:

Jing3bao4; Dai4bu3zheng4; Tong2meng2 (“Objects in Space”)
Tong2meng2 (“Serenity, Part 1”; “The Train Job”; “Bushwhacked”; “Safe”; Firefly: The Official Companion, Volume One; Firefly Press Kit [above])
Tong2meng2 Gong1gong4 Cai2chan3 (Firefly Press Kit)

Mo-Chi-Ri-So-Ra-Ri-Mo Su-I-N-Mi-Ra-Ri-Shi-To; Ni-Shi-I-Mi-Ka-Ni-Ka-N a[small] Wa-A-Ya-Nu-U-Nu-Wa-Yo-Wa; To-Ka-Chi-Ka-Na-To So-Chi-Se-Ka-Chi-Ni-Mi; Ri-Ni-So-I-Mi-To-I So-Ri-Chi-To-To Fu-Wa yo[small]-Pa-Ni-Su-I-Ha-Ri-N-Wo; So-Ni-Ka-Ni-Tsu-I-Mi-To-Ku-Ni-Se Na-Mi-So-Ra-Mi-Ha-Ni-Su-Mo-I-Shi; To-I-Sa Mo-Chi-Ri-I Shi-Ra-Ko; Yo-Me-Fu-Wa-Me-Fu-U-Ya-Fu; i[small]-N-I-To Ko-Su-Ra-Te-Mi Ku-Chi-Ni-Su Ko-Su-Ra-Te-Mi [Not Chinese]

Japanese characters: モチリソラリモスインミラリシトニシイミカニカンァワアヤヌウヌワヨワトカチカナトソチセカチニミリニソイミトイソリチトトフワョパニスイハリンヲソニカニツイミトクニセナミソラミハニスモイシトイサモチリイシラコヨメフワメフウヤフィンイトコスラテミクチニスコスラテミ [see Note 1 below]
Encrypted from the English: [substitution code (Japanese code details): Malcolm Reynolds; Identity #; 037141090; Status Captain; License Class 20 (Firefly); Citizenship; Unconfirmed; Sex Male DOB [date of birth] 9/20/2472; Eyes Brown Hair Brown] [see Note 2 below]
Context: Firefly Press Kit, Visible Chinese, on Mal’s intergalactic pilot license

Japanese Code

Mo-Chi-Ri-So-Ra-Ri-Mo Su-I-N-Mi-Ra-Ri-Shi-To; Ni-Shi-I-Mi-Ka-Ni-Ka-N a[small] Wa-A-Ya-Nu-U-Nu-Wa-Yo-Wa; To-Ka-Chi-Ka-Na-To So-Chi-Se-Ka-Chi-Ni-Mi; Ri-Ni-So-I-Mi-To-I So-Ri-Chi-To-To Fu-Wa yo[small]-Pa-Ni-Su-I-Ha-Ri-N-Wo; So-Ni-Ka-Ni-Tsu-I-Mi-To-Ku-Ni-Se Na-Mi-So-Ra-Mi-Ha-Ni-Su-Mo-I-Shi; To-I-Sa Mo-Chi-Ri-I Shi-Ra-Ko; Yo-Me-Fu-Wa-Me-Fu-U-Ya-Fu; i[small]-N-I-To Ko-Su-Ra-Te-Mi Ku-Chi-Ni-Su Ko-Su-Ra-Te-Mi

[substitution code (Japanese code details): Malcolm Reynolds; identity # 037141090; status captain; license class 20 (firefly); citizenship unconfirmed; sex male DOB [date of birth] 9/20/2472 [September 20, 2472; 20 September 2472]; eyes brown hair brown]

Notes:

Pa for Ha: For the first F in Firefly (class), someone somehow used パ pa instead of ハ ha. To get that on a Japanese keyboard in katakana mode, you would have to type the F key ( ハ ha) then press the Modifier Key (located where the right square-bracket ( ] ) key is on the U.S. keyboard) to add the (accent-like) half-voicing mark ( ゜) to change ハ ha to パ pa.

In Latin-alphabet mode for katakana, you would type the H key then the A key to combine for ハ ha, or P then A to get パ pa.
Colons: The English on the license has colons ( : ) after the categories, but the Japanese code doesn’t. Presumably, they’re missing because the colon is a Shift value on the U.S. keyboard whereas the Japanese keyboard has no Shift value for the corresponding key. On a Japanese keyboard, the colon key is located where the apostrophe ( ' ) key is on the U.S. keyboard.
The English has Mal’s name as Reynolds, Malcolm (alphabetizing format). Including ネ ne for the comma ( , ), the substitution code would instead be スインミラリシトネモチリソラリモ Su-I-N-Mi-Ra-Ri-Shi-To-Ne Mo-Chi-Ri-So-Ra-Ri-Mo.

If you wanted to write “Malcolm Reynolds” phonetically in Japanese (where the sounds actually try to match the English), it would be マルコム・レイノルズ Marukomu Reinoruzu, with a Japanese middle dot ( ・ ) between the names.
Nathan Fillion, who played Malcolm Reynolds and is pictured next to the physical description on the license, has blue eyes not brown. In the substitution code, the word blue would be コリナイ Ko-Ri-Na-I.

Chong1

Simplified characters: 冲 / Traditional characters: 衝
Back-translation of Mandarin: Rush Forth
Context: Firefly Press Kit, Visible Chinese, extremely stylized character (closer to: ) shown sideways on boarding pass

chong1

to rush forth, to charge ahead

Shi-I-Se-Chi-Su-Ka-Na-Su-I Pa-Su-Ni-Shi-Chi-N-Ne I-Se-Ka-Ru [Not Chinese]

Japanese characters: シイセチスカナスイパスニシチンネイセカル [see Note 1 below]
Encrypted from the English: [substitution code (Japanese code details): Departure Friday, ept. [sic (see Note 2 below)]]
Context: Firefly Press Kit, Visible Chinese, on boarding pass

Japanese Code

Shi-I-Se-Chi-Su-Ka-Na-Su-I Pa-Su-Ni-Shi-Chi-N-Ne I-Se-Ka-Ru

[substitution code (Japanese code details): departure Friday, ept. [sic (see Note 2 below)]]

Notes:

Pa for Ha: For the F in Friday someone somehow used パ pa instead of ハ ha. To get that on a Japanese keyboard in katakana mode, you would have to type the F key ( ハ ha) then press the Modifier Key (located where the right square-bracket ( ] ) key is on the U.S. keyboard) to add the (accent-like) half-voicing mark ( ゜) to change ハ ha to パ pa.

In Latin-alphabet mode for katakana, you would type the H key then the A key to combine for ハ ha or P then A to get パ pa.
Full English: The Japanese code doesn’t encode all of the end of the English, which is Sept. 20 [September 20] and should be トイセカルフワ To-I-Se-Ka-Ru Fu-Wa.