“Ariel”

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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qing1wa1 cao4 de5 liu2mang2

Simplified/Traditional characters: 青蛙操的流氓 [see Note 1 below]
Back-translation of Mandarin: frog-f***ed hooligan
Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): ching-wah TSAO duh liou mahng
Translated from script English: frog-humping sonofab**** [see Note 2 below]
Context: “Ariel,” Mal, frustrated while trying to learn medical lines

qing1wa1 cao4 de5

[offensive] frog-f***ed, that a frog f***ed

qing1wa1: a frog
1. qing1: to be green (the color)
2. wa1: a frog
cao4 de5: [offensive] f***ed
1. cao4: [offensive] to f***
2. de5: [noun-modifier marker] [here: integrated adjectival clause (restrictive relative clause)]

liu2mang2

a hooligan, a gangster

liu2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: to wander
mang2 [used only in the compound word liu2mang2]

Notes:

Chinese character: The character 操 (cao1 ‘to speak (a language)’ and less commonly cao4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words] ‘to make trouble’) is used as a replacement character for the offensive character 肏. The character 肏 (cao4 [offensive] ‘to f***’) is often not used because the combination of its parts is visually explicit: 入 ru4 [used only in compound words] ‘to enter’ and 肉 rou4 ‘flesh’ [noun].
Script: frog-humping: cao4 qing1wa1 de5 操青蛙的 : frog-f***ing, that f***s frogs
Mal sounds like “ching-wah tsao duh liao mahng, shiny” instead of the ching-wah TSAO duh liou mahng of the script.

See also:

gou3 cao4 de5 (“The Train Job”)

Ni3hao3?

Simplified/Traditional characters: 你好？
Back-translation of Mandarin: Hello?
Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): [(Not in script) Nee hao?]
Translated from script English: [Not in script]
Context: “Ariel,” Agent McGinnis [captions (region 1 DVD): Agent McGuinness], answering vid-phone call from Jayne

ni3hao3

Hello, How are you?

ni3: you (singular)
hao3: to be good, well [adverb]

Notes:

The captions (region 1 DVD) correctly have Ni hao?
Agent McGinnis mouths ma5 [marker for questions], so before correction he said “Ni3 hao3 ma5?” 你好吗？ (traditional: 你好嗎？) ‘How are you?’ instead of “Ni3hao3?” ‘Hello?’
The current standard hello on the telephone is wei4 喂, the Hey! from “Shindig.”

Xi1 niu2

Simplified/Traditional characters: 吸牛
Back-translation of Mandarin: Cow-sucking
Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): Shee-niou
Translated from script English: Cow sucking
Context: “Ariel,” Jayne, referring to Alliance’s high-tech, but ineffectual, sonic rifle

xi1 niu2

cow-sucking, that sucks cows

xi1: to suck up, to absorb
niu2: a cow

Note:

Jayne correctly sounds like “Shee-niou,” but the captions (region 1 DVD) incorrectly have Se-niou!

See also:

Niu2fen4. (“Safe”)
niu2shi3 (“War Stories”)

mei4mei5

Simplified/Traditional characters: 妹妹
Back-translation of Mandarin: little sister
Script Mandarin translation (Hanyu Pinyin romanization): mei mei [phonetic for English speakers: may-may]
Translated from script English: [(Not in script) little sister (from “Serenity, Part 1” script)]
Context: “Ariel,” Simon, addressing River

mei4mei5

little sister, younger sister

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

Note:

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

Cut Chinese Dialog

Yan1guo5 de5 huai4dan4.

Simplified characters: 阉过的坏蛋。 / Traditional characters: 閹過的壞蛋。
Back-translation of Mandarin: Castrated bastard(s).
Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): Yen guo duh hwai dan.
Translated from script English: Castrated bastards.
Context: “Ariel” [Cut], Simon, referring to River’s experimenters

yan1guo5 de5

castrated, that (has been) castrated

yan1: to castrate
guo5: [completed-action marker]
de5: [noun-modifier marker] [here: integrated adjectival clause (restrictive relative clause)]

huai4dan4

a scoundrel, a bastard (nonliteral)

huai4: to be bad
dan4: [word used in insults of people]; [literally: an egg]

Tian1sha1 de5 e4mo2.

Simplified characters: 天杀的恶魔。 / Traditional characters: 天殺的惡魔。
Back-translation of Mandarin: Goddamn fiend(s).
Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): Tyen-sah duh UH-muo. [In unpublished version of script; Taiwan Mandarin pronunciation (FAQ)]
Translated from script English: Goddamn monsters. [In unpublished version of script]
Context: “Ariel” [Cut; In unpublished version of script], Simon, referring to River’s experimenters

tian1sha1 de5 [+NOUN]

damned-by-heaven [+NOUN], goddamned [+NOUN]; [literally: that God will kill]

tian1: heaven, God
sha1: to kill
de5: [noun-modifier marker] [here: integrated adjectival clause (restrictive relative clause)]

e4mo2

an evil person, a fiend, [Buddhism] a devil

e4: to be fierce
mo2 [used only in compound words]: a devil, a demon

See also:

Ai1ya1. Tian1 a5. (Serenity [movie])
Lao3tian1, bu4. (“Safe”)
Lao3tian1ye2. (“Ariel”)
tian1 xiao3de2 (“Bushwhacked,” “Safe,” “The Message”)
Wo3 de5 tian1, a5. (“Bushwhacked”)

Lao3tian1ye2.

Simplified characters: 老天爷。 / Traditional characters: 老天爺。
Back-translation of Mandarin: Oh God.
Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): Lao TYEN yeh. [In unpublished version of script]
Translated from script English: Jesus. [In unpublished version of script]
Context: “Ariel” [Cut], Simon, upon learning River’s limbic system was stripped (changed to specifically her amygdala)

lao3tian1ye2

[colloquial] Oh God!, Good heavens!

lao3tian1: Heaven (personified), God; [colloquial] Oh God!
1. lao3: [prefix to show respect to someone]; [literally: to be old]
2. tian1: heaven, God
ye2 [used only in compound words]: a grandfather

See also:

Ai1ya1. Tian1 a5. (Serenity [movie])
Lao3tian1, bu4. (“Safe”)
Tian1sha1 de5 e4mo2. (“Ariel”)
tian1 xiao3de2 (“Bushwhacked,” “Safe,” “The Message”)
Wo3 de5 tian1, a5. (“Bushwhacked”)

Visible Chinese

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: “Ariel,” Visible Chinese, on Jayne’s T-shirt (Jayne T-shirt list), visible when River slashes it

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

Wei1

Simplified/Traditional characters: 危
Back-translation of Mandarin: Danger
Context: “Ariel,” Visible Chinese, on crate in cargo bay as Kaylee enters during game of horseshoes

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

See also:

Wei1 (“Trash” “Objects in Space”)
Wei1 Dian4, Fen1 (“Serenity, Part 1,” “The Train Job,” “Shindig,” “Our Mrs. Reynolds,” “Out of Gas,” “Ariel,” “War Stories,” “Trash,” “The Message”)

Yong3

Simplified/Traditional characters: 勇
Back-translation of Mandarin: Soldier
Translated from the English: Soldier [from costume designer Shawna Trpcic’s “Shindig” DVD commentary]
Context: “Ariel,” Visible Chinese, on Jayne’s T-shirt (Jayne T-shirt list), visible when Simon brings up heist

yong3

[Chinese character doesn’t represent an independent word in Modern Standard Mandarin (Putonghua); still used in:] →
san3bing1you2yong3 散兵游勇 (traditional: 散兵遊勇 ): [set phrase] [military] stragglers (soldiers scattered from a troop) and disbanded soldiers

san3bing1: [military] stragglers (soldiers scattered from a troop), [military] a skirmisher
1. san3 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: scattered
2. bing1: the troops, an army
you2yong3: stragglers (soldiers scattered from a troop) and disbanded soldiers
1. you2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: to roam, to rove
2. yong3 [used only in compound words]: a soldier

Notes:

Yong3 勇 usually means ‘brave’ in Modern Standard Mandarin (Putonghua) → yong3gan3 勇敢 : to be brave, to be courageous; yong3 [used only in compound words]: brave, courageous; gan3 to be brave, to be courageous.
Also: jun1ren2 军人 (traditional: 軍人 ): a soldier (in the army); jun1 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: military; ren2: a person

See also:

Yong3 (“The Train Job”; “Shindig”; “War Stories”; Firefly: The Official Companion, Volume One; Firefly: The Official Companion, Volume Two)

Wei1 Dian4, Fen1

Simplified characters: 危电、氛 / Traditional characters: 危電、氛
Back-translation of Mandarin: Danger Electricity, Vapor
Context: “Ariel,” Visible Chinese, on white duct outside Serenity’s cargo bay, visible as Simon enters and sees ambulance

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 (“Serenity, Part 1,” “The Train Job,” “Shindig,” “Our Mrs. Reynolds,” “Out of Gas,” “War Stories,” “Trash,” “The Message”)

Shou1fa1shi4

Simplified characters: 收发室 / Traditional characters: 收發室
Back-translation of Mandarin: Mailroom
Context: “Ariel,” Visible Chinese, written vertically on sign, incorrectly hung sideways at St. Lucy’s Hospital (list of written-Chinese errors), visible behind receiving doctor after Mal and crew check bodies in

shou1fa1shi4

a mailroom

shou1fa1: to receive and send out, a mail clerk
1. shou1: to receive
2. fa1: to send out, to distribute
shi4 [used only in compound words]: a room

Ji2zhen3 Hu4shi5

Simplified characters: 急诊护士 / Traditional characters: 急診護士
Back-translation of Mandarin: Emergency-room nurse [see note below]
Context: “Ariel,” Visible Chinese, on paramedic uniforms, visible on Jayne’s back as Simon wakes up, Jayne’s shoulder as he quiets River in recovery ward, and Mal’s back as arrive at drug storage

ji2zhen3 hu4shi5

an ER [emergency room] nurse

ji2zhen3: emergency care
1. ji2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: urgent
2. zhen3 [used only in compound words]: to diagnose, to examine (medically)
hu4shi5: a nurse
1. hu4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: to protect, to maintain
2. shi4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: [person trained in a field of activity]

Note:

More relevant:
- jin3ji2jiu4hu4yuan2 紧急救护员 (traditional: 緊急救護員 ): an emergency medical technician (EMT); jin3ji2: urgent (jin3: to be urgent; ji2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: urgent) jiu4hu4: to rescue, to give first aid (jiu4: to rescue, to assist; hu4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: to protect, to maintain) yuan2: [suffix for members of a human group], -er/-or
- yi1wu4fu3zhu4ren2yuan2 医务辅助人员 (traditional: 醫務輔助人員 ): a paramedic; yi1wu4: medical matters (yi1 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: the medical profession; wu4 [used only in compound words]: business, affairs); fu3zhu4ren2yuan2: auxiliary personnel (fu3zhu4: auxiliary [adjective] [fu3 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: to assist, to help; zhu4: to assist, to aid]; ren2yuan2: a staff, personnel [ren2: a person; yuan2: [suffix for members of a human group], -er/-or])

Jing3gao4

Simplified/Traditional characters: 警告
Back-translation of Mandarin: Warning
Translated from the English: Alert
Context: “Ariel,” Visible Chinese, on cardiac arrest patient’s monitor

jing3gao4

a warning

jing3 [used only in compound words]: to warn
gao4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: to report, to notify

See also:

Jing3bao4; Dai4bu3zheng4; Tong2meng2 (“Objects in Space”)
Jing3gao4: Zha4yao4 Dan4tou2 (Serenity [movie])

Zhou1qi1

Simplified/Traditional characters: 周期
Back-translation of Mandarin: Cycle
Context: “Ariel,” Visible Chinese, on cardiac-arrest patient’s monitor after the word NORMAL: after Simon helps

zhou1qi1

a cycle, a period

zhou1 [used only in compound words (or as a dynasty/family name or as a classifier for certain nouns)]: [electrical engineering] a cycle
qi1 [used only in compound words (or as a classifier for certain nouns)]: a period, a phase