“Serenity, Part 1”

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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Chinese Dialog

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Ta1ma1 de5.

Simplified characters: 他妈的。 / Traditional characters: 他媽的。
Back-translation of Mandarin: Damn it!
Script Mandarin translation (Hanyu Pinyin romanization): Ta ma de. [phonetic for English speakers: TAH-mah-duh.]
Translated from script English: Dammit.
Context: “Serenity, Part 1,” Mal, upon learning of approaching Alliance cruiser

ta1ma1 de5

[offensive] Damn!, Damn it!, S***!, F***!; [literally: his mother’s]

ta1ma1: [literally: his mother]
1. ta1 [de5]: his
  1. ta1: he
  2. [understood: de5 的 : [noun-modifier marker] [here: possessive (genitive), ’s, of]]
2. ma1: [colloquial] a mom, a mother
de5: [noun-modifier marker] [here: possessive (genitive), ’s, of]

See also:

Ni3 ta1ma1 de5. Tian1xia4 suo3you3 de5 ren2. Dou1 gai1si3. (“Serenity, Part 1”)
Ta1ma1 de5 hun2dan4. (“War Stories”)
Ye1su1, ta1ma1 de5— (“Jaynestown”)
Zhen1 ta1ma1 yao4ming4. Zhu4yi4. (“Serenity, Part 1”)

Bi4zui3. [#1]

Simplified characters: 闭嘴。 / Traditional characters: 閉嘴。
Back-translation of Mandarin: Shut up.
Script Mandarin translation (Hanyu Pinyin romanization): Bizui. [phonetic for English speakers: BEE-tzway.]
Translated from script English: Shut up.
Context: “Serenity, Part 1,” Mal, to Zoe and Jayne as they fret about Alliance cruiser

bi4zui3

[slang] Shut up!

bi4: to shut, to close
zui3: [colloquial] a mouth

Note:

Mal sounds like “Bih-zway” instead of “Bee-tzway.”

See also:

Bi4zui3. (“Serenity, Part 1” [below], Serenity: Better Days #1 & #2)
Bi4zui3 nin2 hen3 bu4ti3tie1 de5 nan2sheng1! (“Objects in Space”)
Bi4zui3. Rong2 wo3men5 fa1cai2. (Serenity [movie])
Ni3men5 dou1 bi4zui3! (“Serenity, Part 2”)

Shi4 [#1]

Simplified/Traditional characters: 是
Back-translation of Mandarin: Yes
Script Mandarin translation (Hanyu Pinyin romanization): Shi [see note below; phonetic for English speakers: Shr]
Translated from script English: Affirmative
Context: “Serenity, Part 1,” Kaylee, to Wash about going to black

shi4

yes, OK (for agreement)

Note:

Pronunciation: Kaylee sounds like “Shoo Uh” instead of “Shr.” For the second syllable she might have been saying “ah” for shi4a5 是啊 : Yes!, Yeah! Oh yes!; shi4: yes, OK (for agreement); a5: [assertion-prolonging marker].

See also:

Shi. (“Serenity, Part 1” [Cut] [below])

Ai1ya1! Huai4le5.

Simplified characters: 哎呀！坏了。 / Traditional characters: 哎呀！壞了。
Back-translation of Mandarin: [interjections for distress and bad news]
Script Mandarin translation (Hanyu Pinyin romanization): Aiya! Huaile. [phonetic for English speakers: Ai-yah! Hwai-luh.]
Translated from script English: Something's wrong.
Context: “Serenity, Part 1,” Wash, upon noticing alarm for Alliance cruiser’s sweep scan of them

ai1ya1

[interjection for shock, regret, or distress], Oh!, Oh my!, Ah!, Damn!

ai1: [interjection for surprise, regret, or distress], Oh!, Ah!
ya1: [interjection for surprise], Oh!, Ah!

huai4le5

[interjection for bad news]; [literally: ruined, destroyed]

huai4: to ruin, to destroy
le5: [completion marker]

Note:

Wash sounds like “Ai ya, hoo ah lay!” instead of “Ai-yah! Hwai-luh.”

See also:

Ai1ya1! (“Our Mrs. Reynolds”)
Ai1ya1. Tian1 a5. (Serenity [movie])
Ai1ya1. Wo3men5 wan2le5. (“Serenity, Part 2”)

Bi4zui3. [#2]

Simplified characters: 闭嘴。 / Traditional characters: 閉嘴。
Back-translation of Mandarin: Shut up.
Script Mandarin translation (Hanyu Pinyin romanization): Bizui. [phonetic for English speakers: BEE-tzway.]
Translated from script English: Shut up.
Context: “Serenity, Part 1,” Mal, to Wash as Wash banters with Jayne

bi4zui3

[slang] Shut up!

bi4: to shut, to close
zui3: [colloquial] a mouth

Note:

Mal sounds like “Bih-zway” instead of “Bee-tzway.”

See also:

Bi4zui3. (“Serenity, Part 1” [above], Serenity: Better Days #1 & #2)
Bi4zui3 nin2 hen3 bu4ti3tie1 de5 nan2sheng1! (“Objects in Space”)
Bi4zui3. Rong2 wo3men5 fa1cai2. (Serenity [movie])
Ni3men5 dou1 bi4zui3! (“Serenity, Part 2”)

Zhen1 ta1ma1 yao4ming4. Zhu4yi4.

Simplified characters: 真他妈要命。注意。 / Traditional characters: 真他媽要命。注意。
Back-translation of Mandarin: This is damn dangerous. Pay attention.
Script Mandarin translation (Hanyu Pinyin romanization): Zhu yi. [sic (see note below); phonetic for English speakers: Jun tah-mah yao-ming. Joo-ee.]
Translated from script English: Watch your back.
Context: “Serenity, Part 1,” Wash, to Zoe as she and the others go off to meet Badger

zhen1 ta1ma1 yao4ming4

[offensive] this is damn dangerous

zhen1 ta1ma1 [de5]: [offensive] damn/damned [intensifier], f***ing [intensifier]
1. zhen1: truly, indeed
2. ta1ma1 [de5]: [offensive] damn/damned [intensifier], f***ing [intensifier]
  1. ta1ma1: his mother
    1. ta1 [de5]: his
      1. ta1: he
      2. [understood: de5 的 : [noun-modifier marker] [here: possessive (genitive), ’s, of]]
    2. ma1: [colloquial] a mom, a mother
  2. [optional: de5 的 : [noun-modifier marker] [here: possessive (genitive), ’s, of]]
yao4ming4: to be dangerous, to be perilous
1. yao4: to want
2. ming4: a life

zhu4yi4

to pay attention

zhu4 [used only in compound words (or as a classifier for certain nouns)]: to concentrate
yi4 [used only in compound words]: attention

Note:

Pronunciation: Wash sounds like “Juh ta ma yao ming. Joo-yee” instead of “Jun tah-mah yao-ming. Joo-ee.” But he definitely said more than the the script’s Zhu yi.

See also:

Ni3 ta1ma1 de5. Tian1xia4 suo3you3 de5 ren2. Dou1 gai1si3. (“Serenity, Part 1”)
Ta1ma1 de5. (“Serenity, Part 1”)
Ta1ma1 de5 hun2dan4. (“War Stories”)
Ye1su1, ta1ma1 de5— (“Jaynestown”)

Qing3jin4.

Simplified characters: 请进。 / Traditional characters: 請進。
Back-translation of Mandarin: Please come in.
Script Mandarin translation (Hanyu Pinyin romanization): Qing jin. [phonetic for English speakers: Ching-jin.]
Translated from script English: Come in.
Context: “Serenity, Part 1,” Inara, to Book knocking on shuttle door

qing3jin4

Please come in

qing3: please (for requests)
jin4: to come in, to enter

Ni3 ta1ma1 de5. Tian1xia4 suo3you3 de5 ren2. Dou1 gai1si3.

Simplified characters: 你他妈的。天下所有的人。都该死。 / Traditional characters: 你他媽的。天下所有的人。都該死。
Back-translation of Mandarin: F*** you. Everyone under heaven deserves death. [see Note 1 below]
Script Mandarin translation (Hanyu Pinyin romanization): Ni ta ma de. Tianxia suoyoude ren. Dou gaisi. [see Note 1 below; phonetic for English speakers: Nee tah-mah-duh. Tyen-shia suo-yo duh ren. Doh gai-ss.]
Translated from script English: Everyone under the heavens ought to die. [see Note 1 below]
Context: “Serenity, Part 1,” Mal, upon learning there’s a mole on board

ni3 ta1ma1 de5

[offensive] F*** you!

ni3: you (singular)
ta1ma1 de5: [offensive] Damn!, Damn it!, S***!, F***!; [literally: his mother’s]
1. ta1ma1: [literally: his mother]
  1. ta1 [de5]: his
    1. ta1: he
    2. [understood: de5 的 : [noun-modifier marker] [here: possessive (genitive), ’s, of]]
  2. ma1: [colloquial] a mom, a mother
2. de5: [noun-modifier marker] [here: possessive (genitive), ’s, of]

tian1xia4 suo3you3 de5 ren2 dou1

everyone under heaven, every person under heaven

tian1xia4: the world, under heaven
1. tian1: the sky, heaven
2. xia4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: under, below
suo3you3 de5 ren2 dou1: everyone, every person, all people
1. suo3you3 de5: all, every
  1. suo3 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: that which
  2. you3: there is, to possess
  3. de5: [noun-modifier marker] [here: integrated adjectival clause (restrictive relative clause)]
2. ren2: a person
3. dou1: all [commonly used redundantly with suo3you3 de5]

gai1si3

[colloquial] be damned, to deserve death

gai1: ought to, to deserve
si3: to die

Notes:

Meaning: As a translation for the English Everyone under the heavens ought to die in the script, the Ni ta ma de (F*** you!) in Ni ta ma de. Tianxia suoyoude ren. Dou gaisi adds no meaning. But an unpublished version of the script gives the English as F*** everyone in the universe to death. Perhaps the English was changed to the tamer version without removing the Ni ta ma de from the Chinese. The taming of this English line, at least, is suggested in an interview with series creator Joss Whedon in a section about getting away with offensive language on American broadcast television. Whedon stated that on Firefly:

The one big restriction we had was, we couldn’t say anything actually really dirty in Chinese. Because they were like, “Mm, if this goes overseas, people will be able to understand what they’re saying, so you can’t cuss.” Originally, we had them cursing like sailors in Chinese, but they were like, “No, you have to say something that can be understood [without offending speakers of Chinese].”

(Joss Whedon, p. 9 of “Still flying: An interview with Joss Whedon.” By Abbie Bernstein. In Firefly: The official companion, vol. 2, Abbie Bernstein, Bryan Cairns, Karl Derrick, and Tara DiLullo [and television script writers], 6–13 [London: Titan, 2007]; brackets in original)

When the interviewer mentioned the F*** everyone in the universe to death of the script, Whedon said: Yes. Probably changed (p. 9).
Mal sounds like “Nee ta ma duh. Tyen-shia soy ya duh ren. Doh goy swa” instead of “Nee tah-mah-duh. Tyen-shia suo-yo duh ren. Doh gai-ss.”
The 2001 Mexican movie Y Tu Mamá También (And Your Mother Too, or “and so’s your mama!”) is known in Mandarin as Ni3 Ta1ma1 de5 Ye3shi4 《你他妈的也是》 (traditional: 《你他媽的也是》 ) : F*** you too; ni3 ta1ma1 de5: [offensive] F*** you! [see main entry above]; ye3shi4: to also be the same (ye3: also; shi4: to be).
Also:
- Gai1si3!: [colloquial] Go to hell!, Damn!, Damn it!
- gai1si3 de5: [colloquial] damned, wretched; de5 的 : [noun-modifier marker] [here: integrated adjectival clause (restrictive relative clause)]

See also:

Ta1ma1 de5. (“Serenity, Part 1”)
Ta1ma1 de5 hun2dan4. (“War Stories”)
Ye1su1, ta1ma1 de5— (“Jaynestown”)
Zhen1 ta1ma1 yao4ming4. Zhu4yi4. (“Serenity, Part 1”)

mei4mei5

Simplified/Traditional characters: 妹妹
Back-translation of Mandarin: little sister
Script Mandarin translation (Hanyu Pinyin romanization): xiao meimei [sic (see Note 1 below); phonetic for English speakers: may-may]
Translated from script English: little sister
Context: “Serenity, Part 1,” Inara, addressing wounded Kaylee

mei4mei5

little sister, younger sister

mei4 [used only in compound words]: [repeated with neutral 5th tone] little sister, younger sister

Notes:

Script version: Inara sounds like “meimei” (“may-may”), and the captions also have Mei-mei on the region 1 DVD. Neither have “shao” for the script’s xiao meimei [phonetic for English speakers: shao may-may]: xiao3mei4mei4 小妹妹 : younger sister, young girl; xiao3: to be junior; mei4 [used only in compound words]: [repeated] little sister, younger sister. Unlike in mei4mei5, the repeated mei in xiao3mei4mei4 retains 4th tone instead of changing to neutral 5th tone.

Also:

Mandarin Words for Siblings
Relation / Gender	Female	Male
Older Sibling	jie3jie5 姐姐 older sister	ge1ge5 哥哥 older brother
Younger Sibling	mei4mei5 妹妹 younger sister	di4di5 弟弟 younger brother

See also:

mei4mei5 (“Safe,” “Our Mrs. Reynolds” [Cut], “Ariel,” “War Stories,” “Heart of Gold”)
xiao3mei4mei4 (“Serenity, Part 2,” Serenity: Better Days #1 & #2)
Zhu4fu2 ni3, mei4mei5. (“Heart of Gold”)

Cut Chinese Dialog

Shi4. [#2]

Simplified/Traditional characters: 是。
Back-translation of Mandarin: Yes.
Script Mandarin translation (Hanyu Pinyin romanization): Shi. [phonetic for English speakers: Shr.]
Translated from script English: Affirmative.
Context: “Serenity, Part 1” [Cut], Wash, to Mal about informing him of Alliance probe

shi4

yes, OK (for agreement)

See also:

Shi (“Serenity, Part 1” [above])

Visible Chinese

Neng2hao4; Mi3; Ding3dian3; Mi3; Jiao3; Ping1; Ping1

Simplified characters: 能耗、米、顶点、米、角、乒、乒 / Traditional characters: 能耗、米、頂點、米、角、乒、乒
Back-translation of Mandarin: Power Consumption; Meters; Vertex; Meters; Angle; [gunshot] “Crack” sound; [gunshot] “Crack” sound
Context: “Serenity, Part 1,” Visible Chinese, on sight of Alliance Ground Sentry anti-aircraft gun, clockwise from right then rotating part in center

neng2hao4

power consumption

neng2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: [physics] energy, power [noun]
hao4: to expend, to consume

mi3

[classifier for meters] [abbreviation] [full form, below, rarely used for noun meter and not used for classifier] →
mi3tu1 米突 : a meter (unit of measure) [loanword; transliteration for mètre: [French] meter]; [literally: a husked seed]

mi3 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: [phonetically used Chinese character]; [literally: husked grain]
tu1 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: [phonetically used Chinese character]; [literally: to stick out]

ding3dian3

a summit, a vertex

ding3: a summit, a top
dian3: a point

mi3 [again]

jiao3

[mathematics] an angle

ping1

[onomatopoeia for “crack” sound] [e.g., a rifle shot]

ping1 [again]

Note:

Also:

gong1chi3 公尺 : a meter; gong1 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: metric [+NOUN]; [literally: [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: accepted, universal]; chi3: a ruler, [Chinese unit of measure] [= ⅓ of a meter]
gong1zhi4 公制 : the metric system; gong1 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: metric [+NOUN]; [literally: [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: accepted, universal]; zhi4 [used only in compound words]: a system
mi3 米 : (uncooked) rice
mi3tu1zhi4 米突制 : the metric system; mi3tu1: a meter (unit of measure) [loanword; transliteration for mètre: [French] meter]; [literally: a husked seed] (mi3 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: [phonetically used Chinese character]; [literally: husked grain]; tu1 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: [phonetically used Chinese character]; [literally: to stick out]); zhi4 [used only in compound words]: a system
mi3zhi4 米制 : [abbreviation] → mi3tu1zhi4 米突制 : the metric system [see above]

Metric System (Partial)
		Length	Mass	Volume
^aTraditional: 公釐 ; word used for both ‘millimeter’ and ‘decigram’ (⅒ gram; for unambiguous ‘decigram’: fen1ke4 分克 ) ^bRare word ^cTraditional: 公絲
1/1000	Newer	hao2mi3 毫米 millimeter (mm)	hao2ke4 毫克 milligram (mg)	hao2sheng1 毫升 milliliter (ml)
1/1000	Older	gong1li2 公厘^a millimeter (mm)	gong1si1^b 公丝^c milligram (mg)	gong1cuo1 公撮 milliliter (ml)
1	Newer	mi3 米 meter (m)	ke4 克 gram (g)	sheng1 升 liter (l)
1	Older	gong1chi3 公尺 meter (m)	gong1ke4 公克 gram (g)	gong1sheng1 公升 liter (l)
1000	Newer	qian1mi3 千米 kilometer (km)	qian1ke4 千克 kilogram (kg)	qian1sheng1^b 千升 kiloliter (kl)
1000	Older	gong1li3 公里 kilometer (km)	gong1jin1 公斤 kilogram (kg)	gong1bing3^b 公秉 kiloliter (kl)

See also:

Fu4yin4; Ding3dian3 (Firefly: The Official Companion, Volume One; Firefly: The Official Companion, Volume Two)

Tong2meng2

Simplified/Traditional characters: 同盟
Back-translation of Mandarin: Alliance
Translated from the English: [(Not shown) Alliance (from Firefly Press Kit star map)]
Context (1): “Serenity, Part 1,” Visible Chinese, on metal chest pin of Dortmunder captain, somewhat visible in his close-ups
Context (2): “Serenity, Part 1,” Visible Chinese, seen upside-down on bottom of salvaged brick, somewhat visible as Mal turns it over

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 (“The Train Job”; “Bushwhacked”; “Safe”; Firefly: The Official Companion, Volume One; Firefly Press Kit)
Tong2meng2 Gong1gong4 Cai2chan3 (Firefly Press Kit)

Yu2

Simplified/Traditional characters: 臾
Back-translation of Mandarin: [meaningless alone]
Translated from the English: short interval [from Joss Whedon’s “Serenity, Part 1 & 2” DVD commentary]
Context: “Serenity, Part 1,” Visible Chinese, on Inara’s hourglass stand, visible as she talks to client

yu2

[Chinese character doesn’t represent an independent word in Modern Standard Mandarin (Putonghua)] →
xu1yu2 须臾 (traditional: 須臾 ): [written] a short moment, in an instant

xu1: a little
yu2 [used only in the compound word xu1yu2]

See also:

Yu2 (“The Message,” “Heart of Gold”)

Shou3 bu4 gan3 jia1jia4

Simplified characters: 手不敢加价 / Traditional characters: 手不敢加價 [as shown in episode, first character’s horizontal strokes are off]
Back-translation of Mandarin: The hand dares not hike the price
Context: “Serenity, Part 1,” Visible Chinese, tattoo written left to right, but oddly up the face of Asian woman (list of written-Chinese errors), at Persephone’s Eavesdown docks, just after black-clad Asian [apparent] gang members are shown

shou3

a hand

bu4 gan3

dare not

bu4: not
gan3: to dare, to venture

jia1jia4

to raise the price, to hike the price

jia1: to increase, to add to
jia4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: a price, a cost, a value

Tai4kong1

Simplified/Traditional characters: 太空
Back-translation of Mandarin: Outer Space
Context: “Serenity, Part 1,” Visible Chinese, on signs in logo for TG FREIGHT [see note below] on walls just outside Badger’s lair, outside that building, and near Serenity

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 (“Bushwhacked,” Firefly Press Kit)

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: “Serenity, Part 1,” Visible Chinese, in logo on outside of Serenity, somewhat visible just before Book meets Kaylee for first time

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 (“The Train Job,” “Safe,” “The Message,” Firefly Press Kit)

Qing1ri4

Simplified/Traditional characters: 靑日 [ 靑 is variant of simplified/traditional 青 ]
Back-translation of Mandarin: Blue Sun
Translated from the English: Blue Sun [early Firefly version (“Blue Sun”translation comparison)]
Context: “Serenity, Part 1,” Visible Chinese, on signs at Eavesdown docks on Persephone, visible as Mal and partners return to ship

Qing1ri4

Blue Sun [name of a fictional corporation]

qing1: to be green (the color), to be blue (the color)
ri4 [used only in compound words]: [traditional] or [meaning borrowed from non-Mandarin Chinese] the sun

Note:

Also: tai4yang2: 太阳 (traditional: 太陽 ): the sun; tai4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: great, grand; yang2 [used only in compound words]: the sun

See also:

Lan2ri4 (“The Message,” Firefly Official Site, Serenity: Firefly Class 03-K64; Leaves on the Wind)
Lan2ri4; Bing3 Qie3 Diu1; Zhong1 Wu1 Feng1 Zhu3 Wu1 Zha4 Tuo1 Wu1; Wan2 Zhi1 Jiu3; Chuan4 Pie3 Tuo1 Gai4 (Serenity Props and Merchandise)
Lan2ri4; Dan1 Zhi1 Zhong1 Zhu3 Jiu3 Zhong1 Chuan4 Tuo1 Wei2 Tuo1 Gai4; Chuan4 Pie3 Tuo1 Gai4 (Serenity Props and Merchandise)
Qing1ri4 (“Bushwhacked,” “Shindig,” “Ariel”)
Qing1tian2 (Serenity: The Shepherd’s Tale)
Shi4 ni3 de5; Ke3zhen1 ke3zhen1; Lan2ri4 (“The Message”)
Zhe4 ben3 shu1 shi4 yi1 ge5 Qing1ri4 he2zuo4 chu1ban3 (Firefly: The Official Companion, Volume Two)

Xi3; Shou4

Simplified characters: 囍寿 / Traditional characters: 囍壽
Back-translation of Mandarin: Double Happiness; Long Life
Context: “Serenity, Part 1,” Visible Chinese, stylized characters on vertical Chinese calligraphy hanging in Mal’s quarters, behind Mal after he washes hands; third, bottom, character obscured by plant

xi3; shou4

[probably parts of a phrase] →
fu2-lu4-shou4-xi3 福禄寿囍 (traditional: 福祿壽囍 ): [phrase for well-wishing] good luck, wealth, long life, and double happiness

fu2: good luck, happiness
lu4 [used only in compound words]: salary, wealth, rank
shou4 [used only in compound words (or as a family name)]: long life
xi3: [ 囍 is special doubled form of 喜 xi3 [used only in compound words]: happiness, joy] double happiness (especially for weddings/marriage), marital bliss

Notes:

From EVIESERENITY’s post on Firefly Fans.net
Also:
- fu2-lu4-shou4-xi3 福禄寿喜 (traditional: 福祿壽喜 ): [phrase for well-wishing] good luck, wealth, long life, and happiness; fu2: good luck, happiness; lu4 [used only in compound words]: salary, wealth, rank; shou4 [used only in compound words (or as a family name)]: long life; xi3 [used only in compound words]: happiness, joy
- fu2-lu4-shou4-xi3 福禄寿禧 (traditional: 福祿壽禧 ): [phrase for well-wishing] good luck, wealth, long life, and happiness; fu2: good luck, happiness; lu4 [used only in compound words]: salary, wealth, rank; shou4 [used only in compound words (or as a family name)]: long life; xi3 [used only in compound words]: happiness, good luck
- fu2-lu4-shou4kao3 福禄寿考 (traditional: 福祿壽考 ): [phrase for well-wishing] good luck, high position, and long life; fu2: good luck, happiness; lu4 [used only in compound words]: salary, wealth, rank; shou4kao3: [traditional] long life (shou4 [used only in compound words (or as a family name)]: long life; kao3: old age)
- fu2-lu4-shou4 福禄寿 (traditional: 福祿壽 ): [phrase for well-wishing] happiness, wealth, and long life; fu2: good luck, happiness; lu4 [used only in compound words]: salary, wealth, rank; shou4 [used only in compound words (or as a family name)]: long life

See also:

Xi3 (Serenity [movie])
Xi3; Shou4 (“Our Mrs. Reynolds”)

Wei1 Dian4, Fen1

Simplified characters: 危电、氛 / Traditional characters: 危電、氛
Back-translation of Mandarin: Danger Electricity, Vapor
Context: “Serenity, Part 1,” Visible Chinese, on white duct outside Serenity’s cargo bay, visible while Kaylee is wounded below it

wei1

[for this meaning, Chinese character doesn’t represent an independent word in Modern Standard Mandarin (Putonghua)] →
wei1xian3 危险 (traditional: 危險 ): danger, to be dangerous

wei1 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: danger, dangerous
xian3: to be dangerous

dian4

electricity, to get an electric shock

fen1

[used only in compound words]: vapor

Note:

Standard warning signs with electricity:
- dang1xin1 chu4dian4 当心触电 (traditional: 當心觸電 ): careful: electric shock; dang1xin1: to be careful, to take care (dang1 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: appropriate [adjective]; xin1: feelings, the mind); chu4dian4: to get an electric shock (chu4: to touch; dian4: to get an electric shock)
- jing3gao4: gao1ya1dian4 警告高压电 (traditional: 警告高壓電 ): warning: high voltage; jing3gao4: a warning (jing3 [used only in compound words]: to warn; gao4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: to report, to notify); gao1ya1dian4: high voltage (gao1ya1: high voltage [gao1: to be high (of level); ya1 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: pressure [noun]]; dian4: electricity, to get an electric shock)
- xiao3xin1you3dian4 小心有电 (traditional: 小心有電 ): careful: electricity; xiao3xin1: to be careful, to take care (xiao3: to be small; xin1: feelings, the mind); you3: to have, there is; dian4: electricity, to get an electric shock
- you3dian4wei1xian3 有电危险 (traditional: 有電危險 ): electric shock risk; you3: to have, there is; dian4: electricity, to get an electric shock; wei1xian3: danger, to be dangerous (wei1 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: danger, dangerous; xian3: to be dangerous)

See also:

Wei1 (“Ariel,” “Trash,” “Objects in Space”)
Wei1 Dian4, Fen1 (“The Train Job,” “Shindig,” “Our Mrs. Reynolds,” “Out of Gas,” “Ariel,” “War Stories,” “Trash,” “The Message”)