“Trash”

Ben4 tian1sheng1 de5 yi1 dui1 rou4.

• Simplified/Traditional characters: 笨天生的一堆肉。
• Back-translation of Mandarin: Stupid, inbred (deep-seated) stack of meat.
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): BUN tyen-shung duh ee-DWAY-RO.
• Translated from script English: Stupid inbred stack of meat. [see Note 1 below]
• Context: “Trash,” Saffron, addressing the departing Monty

ben4

to be stupid

tian1sheng1 de5

innate, inbred (deep-seated), a born / a natural (something) [see Note 1 below]

1. tian1: nature-given, heaven, God
2. sheng1: to be born
3. de5: [noun-modifier marker] [here: integrated adjectival clause (restrictive relative clause)]

yi1 dui1 rou4

a stack of meat

1. yi1 dui1: a stack of, a pile of
   1. yi1 [pronounced “yi4” before a 1st-tone syllable]: one, a
   2. dui1: [classifier for stacks/piles]
2. rou4: meat, flesh

hou2zi5 de5 pi4gu5!

• Simplified/Traditional characters: 猴子的屁股！
• Back-translation of Mandarin: monkey’s butt!
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): HOE-tze duh PEE-goo!
• Translated from script English: monkey's ass!
• Context: “Trash,” Saffron, addressing Mal

hou2zi5 de5 pi4gu5

monkey’s butt

1. hou2zi5 de5: a monkey’s
   1. hou2zi5: a monkey
      1. hou2: a monkey
      2. zi5: [suffix to make noun two syllables]
   2. de5: [noun-modifier marker] [here: possessive (genitive), ’s, of]
2. pi4gu5: a butt (of the body), a backside (of the body)
   1. pi4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: [colloquial] a butt (of the body), a backside (of the body)
   2. gu3 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: a thigh

Yi1qi3 shen1hu1xi1.

• Simplified/Traditional characters: 一起深呼吸。
• Back-translation of Mandarin: Let’s do deep breathing together.
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): EE-chee shung-hoo-shee.
• Translated from script English: Let's take a deep breath.
• Context: “Trash,” Mal, as he and Inara argue

yi1qi3

together

1. yi1: one, a
2. qi3: [classifier for groups]

shen1hu1xi1

to do deep breathing

1. shen1: to be deep
2. hu1xi1: breathing
   1. hu1: to exhale
   2. xi1 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: to inhale

Suo3xi4?

• Simplified characters: 琐细？ / Traditional characters: 瑣細？
• Back-translation of Mandarin: Petty? (trivial)
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): Suo-SHEE?
• Translated from script English: Petty?
• Context: “Trash,” Inara, to Mal about what she meant instead of petty after petty thief comment

suo3xi4

to be small and tedious (e.g. work), to be trivial

1. suo3 [used only in compound words]: petty, trivial
2. xi4: to be trifling, to be minute

Ni3men5 dou1 shi4 sha3gua1.

• Simplified characters: 你们都是傻瓜。 / Traditional characters: 你們都是傻瓜。
• Back-translation of Mandarin: All of you are idiots.
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): Nee-mun DOH shr sagwa. [Taiwan Mandarin pronunciation (FAQ: Variety of Chinese)]
• Translated from script English: Idiots. All of you.
• Context: “Trash,” Inara, addressing those going along with Saffron’s plan

ni3men5 dou1

all of you

1. ni3men5: you (plural)
   1. ni3: you (singular)
   2. men5: [suffix for human plural words]
2. dou1: all

shi4 sha3gua1

are idiots

1. shi4: to be
2. sha3gua1: [insult] a fool, a damned fool, an idiot
   1. sha3: to be foolish, to be stupid
   2. gua1: a melon, a gourd

bu4 hui3hen4 de5 po1fu4

• Simplified characters: 不悔恨的泼妇 / Traditional characters: 不悔恨的潑婦
• Back-translation of Mandarin: harridan that doesn’t feel remorse
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): BOO hway-HUN duh PUO-foo
• Translated from script English: remorseless harridan
• Context: “Trash,” Simon, referring to Saffron

bu4 hui3hen4 de5 po1fu4

a harridan that doesn’t feel remorse

1. bu4 hui3hen4 de5: that doesn’t feel remorse
   1. bu4: not
   2. hui3hen4: to feel remorse, to regret deeply
      1. hui3 [used only in compound words]: to regret, to show remorse
      2. hen4: to regret
   3. de5: [noun-modifier marker] [here: integrated adjectival clause (restrictive relative clause)]
2. po1fu4: a shrew (woman), a harridan
   1. po1: to be spiteful, to be sharp-tongued
   2. fu4 [used only in compound words]: a woman

Shen2sheng4 de5 gao1wan2.

• Simplified characters: 神圣的睾丸。 / Traditional characters: 神聖的睾丸。
• Back-translation of Mandarin: Holy testicle(s).
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): Shun-SHENG duh gao-WAHN.
• Translated from script English: Holy testicle Tuesday. [see note below]
• Context: “Trash,” Mal, upon seeing ritzy estate parlor

shen2sheng4 de5

to be holy, to be sacred

1. shen2: a god
2. sheng4 [used only in compound words]: holy, sacred
3. de5: [noun-modifier marker] [here: integrated adjectival clause (restrictive relative clause)]

gao1wan2

testicle

1. gao1 [used only in compound words]: a testicle
2. wan2 [used only in compound words (or as a classifier for certain nouns)]: a pill, a small ball

Yo-Saf-Bridge [Not Chinese]

• Simplified/Traditional characters: [None]
• Back-translation of Mandarin: [Not Chinese]
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): [Not Chinese]
• Script English: Yo-Saf-Bridge
• Context: “Trash,” Mal, addressing Saffron as she holds gun on Durran

English

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]

Ta1 shi4 suo3you3 di4yu4 de5 biao3zi5 de5 ma1!

• Simplified characters: 她是所有地狱的婊子的妈！ / Traditional characters: 她是所有地獄的婊子的媽！
• Back-translation of Mandarin: She’s the mother of all the whores of hell!
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): Tah-shr SUO-yo DEE-yure duh biao-tze duh MAH!
• Translated from script English: She's the mother of all the whores in hell!
• Context: “Trash,” Kaylee, upon seeing Saffron’s engine sabotage

ta1 shi4

she is

1. ta1: she
2. shi4: to be

suo3you3 di4yu4 de5 biao3zi5 de5 ma1

the mother of all the whores of hell

1. suo3you3 di4yu4 de5 biao3zi5 de5: of all the whores of hell
   1. suo3you3 di4yu4 de5 biao3zi5: all the whores of hell
      1. suo3you3: all, every
         1. suo3 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: that which
         2. you3: there is, to possess
      2. di4yu4 de5: of hell, hell’s
         1. di4yu4: hell
            1. di4: the ground
            2. yu4 [used only in compound words]: a prison
         2. de5: [noun-modifier marker] [here: possessive (genitive), ’s, of]
      3. biao3zi5: [insult] [offensive] a whore
         1. biao3 [used only in compound words]: a prostitute
         2. zi5: [suffix to make noun two syllables]
   2. de5: [noun-modifier marker] [here: possessive (genitive), ’s, of]
2. ma1: [colloquial] a mom, a mother

qiang2bao4 hou2zi5 de5

• Simplified characters: 强暴猴子的 / Traditional characters: 強暴猴子的
• Back-translation of Mandarin: monkey-raping
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): Chiang-BAO HOE-tze duh
• Translated from script English: monkey raping
• Context: “Trash” [Cut], Mal, referring to Alliance’s Durran Haymer

qiang2bao4 hou2zi5 de5

monkey-raping, that rapes monkeys

1. qiang2bao4: to rape
   1. qiang2: to be powerful, to be strong
   2. bao4: to be violent, to be cruel
2. hou2zi5: a monkey
   1. hou2: a monkey
   2. zi5: [suffix to make noun two syllables]
3. de5: [noun-modifier marker] [here: integrated adjectival clause (restrictive relative clause)]

Kuai4 qu4 hen3 yuan3 de5 di4fang1.

• Simplified characters: 快去很远的地方。 / Traditional characters: 快去很遠的地方。
• Back-translation of Mandarin: Go fast to a very far away place.
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): KWAI chur hun-rien duh di fahng.
• Translated from script English: Go far away very fast.
• Context: “Trash” [Cut], Simon, to the crude Jayne, as he hides the Tams from Saffron

kuai4 qu4

go quickly to

1. kuai4: fast, quick
2. qu4: to go to, to leave

hen3 yuan3 de5

very distant

1. hen3: very
2. yuan3: to be far, to be remote
3. de5: [adverb marker] [required when adverb modifies one-syllable adjective]

di4fang1

a place, a locality

1. di4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: a place
2. fang1: a place, a locality

Fang4xin1.

• Simplified/Traditional characters: 放心。
• Back-translation of Mandarin: Don’t worry.
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): FAHNG-sheen.
• Translated from script English: Don't worry.
• Context: “Trash” [Cut], Zoe, to Inara about keeping Mal safe from Saffron

fang4xin1

Don’t worry, to set one’s mind at rest

1. fang4: to release, to set free
2. xin1: the mind

zhan4dou3 de5 yi1 kuai4 rou4

• Simplified characters: 战抖的一块肉 / Traditional characters: 戰抖的一塊肉
• Back-translation of Mandarin: trembling piece of flesh
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): JAN-doh duh ee-KWAI-ro
• Translated from script English: dangly piece of flesh
• Context: “Trash” [Cut], Zoe, referring to what Mal shouldn’t think with

zhan4dou3 de5

trembling, that trembles

1. zhan4dou3: to tremble, to shiver (with cold or fear)
   1. zhan4 [used only in compound words (or as a family name)]: to tremble, to shiver (with cold)
   2. dou3: to tremble, to shiver
2. de5: [noun-modifier marker] [here: integrated adjectival clause (restrictive relative clause)]

yi1 kuai4 rou4

piece of flesh

1. yi1 kuai4: a piece of
   1. yi1 [pronounced “yi2” before a 4th-tone syllable]: one, a
   2. kuai4: [classifier for pieces/lumps]
2. rou4: meat, flesh

Da4ting1

• Simplified characters: 大厅 / Traditional characters: 大廳
• Back-translation of Mandarin: Parlor
• Context: “Trash,” Visible Chinese, on upper-right corner of computer schematics for Bellerophon Estates

da4ting1

a parlor, a large hall

1. da4: to be big, to be great
2. ting1 [used only in compound words]: a hall

Ying2

• Simplified/Traditional characters: 迎
• Back-translation of Mandarin: Welcome
• Context (1): “Trash,” Visible Chinese, on large balloons, visible after Mal and Saffron land at Haymer’s estate
• Context (2): “Trash,” Visible Chinese, on columns as Mal and Saffron first run from police

ying2

[for this meaning, Chinese character doesn’t represent an independent word in Modern Standard Mandarin (Putonghua)] →
huan1ying2 欢迎 (traditional: 歡迎 ): Welcome!, to welcome, to greet

1. huan1 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: joyfully, happy
2. ying2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: to welcome, to greet

Ikebana to Zouka; Rakuzaka; Taguchiya Ikebanaten [Not Chinese]

• Japanese characters: いけ花と造花・楽坂・田口屋生花店
• Back-translation of Japanese: Ikebana and Artificial Flowers; Rakuzaka; Taguchiya Ikebana Store
• Context: “Trash,” Visible Chinese, written left to right, but down the vertical banner after Mal and Saffron land at Haymer’s estate

Japanese

ikebana to zouka

ikebana and artificial flowers

1. ikebana: ikebana, flower arrangement
   1. ike: [combining noun-form of the verb ikeru 生ける / いける ] arranging (flowers)
   2. hana [-bana is voiced form in some compound words]: a flower
2. to: and [for joining nouns not clauses]
3. zouka: an artificial flower, artificial-flower making [borrowing from Chinese (see Note 1 below)]
   1. zou [used only in compound words]: to make
   2. ka [used only in compound words]: a flower

rakuzaka

[a name]

1. raku: [literally: comfort [noun], pleasure [noun]] [borrowing from Chinese (see Note 1 below)]
2. saka [-zaka is voiced form in some compound words]: [literally: a slope, a hill]

Taguchiya Ikebanaten

[name of a fictional business] Taguchiya Ikebana Store

1. Taguchiya: [name of a fictional business]
   1. Taguchi: [Japanese family name]
      1. ta: [literally: a rice field]
      2. kuchi [-guchi is voiced form in some compound words]: [literally: a mouth, an entrance]
   2. ya: [suffix for names/types of businesses]
2. ikebanaten: a flower-arrangement store
   1. ikebana: ikebana, flower arrangement
      1. ike: [combining noun-form of the verb ikeru 生ける / いける ] arranging (flowers)
      2. hana [-bana is voiced form in some compound words]: a flower
   2. ten: [suffix for types of businesses] [borrowing from Chinese (see Note 1 below)]

Wei1

• Simplified/Traditional characters: 危
• Back-translation of Mandarin: Danger
• Context: “Trash,” Visible Chinese, on inside of Serenity’s hatch as Jayne goes topside

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

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

Wei1 Dian4, Fen1

• Simplified characters: 危   电、氛 / Traditional characters: 危   電、氛
• Back-translation of Mandarin: Danger Electricity, Vapor
• Context: “Trash,” Visible Chinese, on trash bin, visible as Jayne and Kaylee reprogram the trash bin; ; second character incorrectly written mirror-image (list of written-Chinese errors); third character is up above and is also visible on bin towards end of show as camera pans to Saffron

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

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

dian4

electricity, to get an electric shock

fen1

[used only in compound words]: vapor

Dai1ruo4mu4ji1

• Simplified characters: 呆若木鸡 / Traditional characters: 呆若木雞
• Back-translation of Mandarin: Dumb as a Wooden Chicken
• Context: “Trash,” Visible Chinese, on Jayne’s T-shirt (Jayne T-shirt list) with drawing of Asian face, visible in infirmary

dai1ruo4mu4ji1

[set phrase] dumb as a wooden chicken, dumbstruck

1. dai1: to be foolish, to be stupid
2. ruo4: as, like
3. mu4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: wooden
4. ji1: a chicken