“Heart of Gold”

gen1 hou2zi5 bi3 diu1 shi3

• Simplified characters: 跟猴子比丢屎 / Traditional characters: 跟猴子比丟屎
• Back-translation of Mandarin: compete throwing excrement with a monkey
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): gun HOE-tze bee DIO-se [In unpublished version of script; Taiwan Mandarin pronunciation (FAQ)]
• Translated from script English: engage in a feces hurling contest with a monkey [In unpublished version of script]
• Context: “Heart of Gold” [In unpublished version of script], Inara, about what the companion house could go and do

gen1 hou2zi5

with a monkey

1. gen1: with
2. hou2zi5: a monkey
   1. hou2: a monkey
   2. zi5: [suffix to make noun two syllables]

bi3 diu1 shi3

to compete throwing excrement

1. bi3: to compete, a contest
2. diu1: to throw
3. shi3: excrement, dung

Zhu4fu2 ni3, mei4mei5.

• Simplified/Traditional characters: 祝福你，妹妹。
• Back-translation of Mandarin: Bless you, little sister.
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): TZOO-foo nee, mei mei. [Taiwan Mandarin pronunciation (FAQ: Variety of Chinese)]
• Translated from script English: Blessings on you, dear sister.
• Context: “Heart of Gold,” Nandi, addressing Inara

zhu4fu2 ni3

bless you

1. zhu4fu2: blessings, to bless, to wish happiness
   1. zhu4: to bless, to pray for blessing, to wish well
   2. fu2: a blessing, happiness
2. ni3: you (singular)

mei4mei5

little sister, younger sister

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

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: “Heart of Gold,” Nandi, addressing Inara

mei4mei5

little sister, younger sister

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

[Man4man4 di5, ren2lei4 yong4jin4 le5 da4di4 de5 zi1yuan2. Huang1wu2 le5, ta1 wu2ke3 gong1ying4.]
Lüe4duo2zhe3, man3zai4 er2 qu4.
[Chuang4shi4ji4, chan3sheng1 de5 da4di4, shou3du4 gan3dao4 gu1li4. Di4qiu2 wei4 ren2lei2 de5 rou2lin4 er2 tong4ku1-liu2lei4, suan1ku3 de5 lei4shui3, man4liu2 le5 yi1 shi4ji4. Hui3mie4 zhi1 huo3, ru2 tian1 jiang4fu2 zhong1yu2 lai2dao4.]

• Simplified characters: 慢慢的，人类用尽了大地的资源。荒芜了，她无可供应。掠夺者，满载而去。创世纪，产生的大地，首度感到孤立。地球为人类的蹂躏而痛哭流泪，酸苦的泪水，漫流了一世纪。毁灭之火，如天降福终于来到。
• Traditional characters: 慢慢的，人類用盡了大地的資源。荒蕪了，她無可供應。掠奪者，滿載而去。創世紀，產生的大地，首度感到孤立。地球為人類的蹂躪而痛哭流淚，酸苦的淚水，漫流了一世紀。毀滅之火，如天降福終於來到。
• -
• Back-translation of Mandarin: Little by little, the human race completely used up the resources of Mother Earth. Having become desolate, she could not provide. The plunderers left fully laden with loot. The earth that Genesis had given rise to, for the first time felt alone. The earth, because of the rapacious acts of the human race, sobbed her heart out. Tears of misery overflowed for a century. The fire that destroyed her, like a blessing from heaven it finally came.
• -
• Script Mandarin translation (Hanyu Pinyin romanization): Man, man di, ren lei yong jin le da di de zi yuan. Huang wu le, ta wu ke gong yin. Lue duo ze, man zai er chu. Chuang si ji, can shen de da di, shou du gan dao gu li. Di qiu wei ren lei de rou lin er tong ku liu lie, suan ku de lei shui, man liu le yi shi ji. Hui mie zhi huo, ru tien jiang fu zhong yu lai dao. [sic (see Note 1 below)] [phonetic for English speakers: Mahn-mahn dee, run-lay yong-jeen luh dah-dee duh tzz-wahn. Hwang-oo luh, tah oo-kuh gong-een. Lweh-duo-tzuh, mahn-tzai ur choo. Chuang-ss-jee, tsahn-shun duh dah-dee, shoh-doo gahn-dao goo-lee. Dee-chio way run-lay duh roh-leen ur tong-koo lio-lay, swahn-koo duh lay-shway, mahn-lio luh ee shr-jee. Hway-myeh jr huo, roo tyen jyahng-foo jong-oo lai-dao.]
• -
• Translated from script English: Little by little, the tribes used the Earth up. Barren, she had little left to offer them. Swollen of her, they left. And for the first time since the Great Burn that birthed her, she was alone. The Earth cried, and terrible were her tears. Acid and caustic, the spawn of the tribes' rape. They flowed a century. The fire that finally came did so as a blessing.
• -
• Context: “Heart of Gold” [Mostly cut], Narrator (of shadow-puppet play), about leaving Earth-That-Was, as Mal and Inara enter theater

man4man4 di5, ren2lei4 yong4jin4 le5 da4di4 de5 zi1yuan2

little by little, the human race completely used up the resources of Mother Earth

1. man4man4 di5: little by little, gradually
   1. man4man4: little by little, gradually
      1. man4: [repeated] to be slow
   2. di5 [usually de5]: [adverb marker] [usually de5 地 ]
2. ren2lei4: humankind, the human race
   1. ren2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: a human, a human being
   2. lei4: a type, a species
3. yong4jin4 le5: completely used up
   1. yong4jin4: to exhaust, to completely use up
      1. yong4: to use
      2. jin4: to exhaust, to use up
   2. le5: [completion marker]
4. da4di4 de5: of the earth, of Mother Earth
   1. da4di4: the earth, Mother Earth
      1. da4: to be big, to be great
      2. di4: the earth
   2. de5: [noun-modifier marker] [here: possessive (genitive), ’s, of]
5. zi1yuan2: resources, natural resources
   1. zi1 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: resources, wealth
   2. yuan2 [used only in compound words]: a source

huang1wu2 le5, ta1 wu2ke3 gong1ying4

having become desolate, she could not provide

1. huang1wu2 le5: has become desolate
   1. huang1wu2: to be desolate, to lie in waste
      1. huang1: to be desolate, to lie in waste
      2. wu2: neglected (land), overgrown with weeds
   2. le5: [completion marker]
2. ta1: she
3. wu2ke3: can’t
   1. wu2: [negative prefix]
   2. ke3: can [auxiliary verb], to be possible
4. gong1ying4: to supply, to provide
   1. gong1: to supply
   2. ying4: to supply, to respond

lüe4duo2zhe3, man3zai4 er2 qu4

the plunderers left fully laden with loot [see Notes 1 and 2 below]

1. lüe4duo2zhe3: a plunderer, a pillager
   1. lüe4duo2: to plunder, to pillage
      1. lüe4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: to plunder, to take by force
      2. duo2: to seize, to take by force
   2. zhe3: [suffix to make doer nouns from verbs/adjectives], -er/-or
2. man3zai4 er2 qu4: to leave fully loaded
   1. man3zai4: to be fully loaded, to be loaded to capacity
      1. man3: filled full
      2. zai4: to fill, to carry (a load)
   2. er2: [marker connecting adverbial to verb] [here: manner adverbial]
   3. qu4: to leave, to depart

Chuang4shi4ji4, chan3sheng1 de5 da4di4, shou3du4 gan3dao4 gu1li4

the earth that Genesis had given rise to, for the first time felt alone

1. Chuang4shi4ji4 chan3sheng1 de5 da4di4: the earth that Genesis gives rise to
   1. Chuang4shi4ji4: [Christianity] Genesis (first book of the Old Testament, beginning with creation)
      1. chuang4: to initiate (something), to create
      2. shi4ji4: a century
         1. shi4 [used only in compound words (or as a family name)]: an era, an epoch
         2. ji4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: a century
   2. chan3sheng1 de5: that gives rise to
      1. chan3sheng1 de5: to give rise to, to cause
         1. chan3: to produce, to make
         2. sheng1: to give rise to, to cause
      2. de5: [noun-modifier marker] [here: integrated adjectival clause (restrictive relative clause)]
   3. da4di4: the earth, Mother Earth
      1. da4: to be big, to be great
      2. di4: the earth
2. shou3du4: first time
   1. shou3 [used only in compound words (or as a classifier for certain nouns)]: first
   2. du4: [classifier for times in a sequence]
3. gan3dao4: to feel / to sense (focus on result/goal)
   1. gan3: to feel / to sense (focus on action)
   2. dao4: [end-result marker]
4. gu1li4: to be alone, to be isolated
   1. gu1 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: alone, isolated
   2. li4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: to live, to exist

di4qiu2 wei4 ren2lei2 de5 rou2lin4 er2 tong4ku1-liu2lei4, suan1ku3 de5 lei4shui3, man4liu2 le5 yi1 shi4ji4

the earth, because of the rapacious acts of the human race, sobbed her heart out; tears of misery overflowed for a century

1. di4qiu2: the earth, the globe
   1. di4: the earth
   2. qiu2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: a globe
2. wei4: on account of, because, because of
3. ren2lei2 de5: of humankind, of the human race
   1. ren2lei2: humankind, the human race
      1. ren2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: a human, a human being
      2. lei4: a type, a species
   2. de5: [noun-modifier marker] [here: possessive (genitive), ’s, of]
4. rou2lin4: to ravage, rapacious acts
   1. rou2 [used only in compound words]: to trample
   2. lin4 [used only in compound words]: to abuse, to lay waste to (a place)
5. er2: [marker connecting adverbial to verb] [here: causal adverbial]
6. tong4ku1-liu2lei4: to weep bitterly, to sob one’s heart out
   1. tong4ku1: to weep bitterly, to sob one’s heart out
      1. tong4: bitterly, deeply
      2. ku1: to cry (tears), to weep
   2. liu2lei4: to shed tears (teardrops)
      1. liu2: to flow
      2. lei4 [used only in compound words]: a tear (teardrop)
7. suan1ku3 de5 lei4shui3: tears of misery
   1. suan1ku3 de5: of misery
      1. suan1ku3: misery, sadness
         1. suan1 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: grieved, sick at heart
         2. ku3: suffering, pain
      2. de5: [noun-modifier marker] [here: possessive (genitive), ’s, of]
   2. lei4shui3: a tear (teardrop)
      1. lei4 [used only in compound words]: a tear (teardrop)
      2. shui3 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: a bodily fluid
8. man4liu2 le5: overflowed
1. man4liu2: to overflow
   1. man4: to overflow, to flood
   2. liu2: to flow
2. le5: [completion marker]
9. yi1 shi4ji4: a century
   1. yi1 [pronounced “yi2” before a 4th-tone syllable]: one, a
   2. shi4ji4: a century
      1. shi4 [used only in compound words (or as a family name)]: an era, an epoch
      2. ji4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: a century

hui3mie4 zhi1 huo3, ru2 tian1 [de5] jiang4fu2 zhong1yu2 lai2dao4

the fire that destroyed her, like a blessing from heaven it finally came

1. hui3mie4 zhi1 huo3: the fire that destroys, the fire that wipes out
   1. hui3mie4 zhi1: that destroys, that wipes out
      1. hui3mie4: to destroy, to wipe out
         1. hui3: to destroy, to ruin
         2. mie4: to destroy, to wipe out
      2. zhi1: [Literary Chinese] = de5 的 : [vernacular Mandarin] [noun-modifier marker] [here: integrated adjectival clause (restrictive relative clause) ]
   2. huo3: a fire
2. ru2 tian1 [de5] jiang4fu2: like the blessings of heaven
   1. ru2: to be like, as if
   2. tian1 [de5] jiang4fu2: the blessings of heaven
   1. tian1 [de5]: heaven’s, of heaven
   1. tian1: heaven
   2. [understood: de5 的 : [noun-modifier marker] [here: possessive (genitive), ’s, of]]
   2. jiang4fu2: to bless, blessings from heaven
      1. jiang4: to fall, to descend
      2. fu2: a blessing, happiness
3. zhong1yu2: finally, in the end
   1. zhong1: finally, in the end
   2. yu2: [suffix for some time expressions], in, from
4. lai2dao4: to come / to arrive (focus on result/goal)
   1. lai2: to come / to arrive (focus on action)
   2. dao4: [end-result marker]

dong3 ma5?

• Simplified characters: 懂吗？ / Traditional characters: 懂嗎？
• Back-translation of Mandarin: understand?
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): dong-MA?
• Translated from script English: you understand?
• Context: “Heart of Gold,” Jayne (off-screen), to prostitutes after revealing penalty for missing the target

dong3 ma5

understand?

1. dong3: to understand
2. ma5: [marker for questions]

Zhen1 mei2 nai4xing4 de5 Fo2zu3

• Simplified characters: 真没耐性的佛祖 / Traditional characters: 真沒耐性的佛祖
• Back-translation of Mandarin: Buddha that truly has no patience
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): jen mei NAI-shing duh FWO-tzoo
• Translated from script English: Extraordinarily impatient Buddha
• Context: “Heart of Gold,” Nandi, response to Mal’s gentlemanly manner

zhen1

truly, indeed

mei2 nai4xing4 de5

that has no patience, without patience

1. mei2: [abbreviation] →
   mei2you3 没有 (traditional: 沒有 ): to have no (something), -less
   1. mei2: not
   2. you3: to have, there is
2. nai4xing4: patience, endurance
   1. nai4: patient
   2. xing4: [suffix making abstract nouns from adjectives], -ness, -ity
3. de5: [noun-modifier marker] [here: integrated adjectival clause (restrictive relative clause)]

Fo2zu3

[Buddhism] [polite] Buddha, a Buddhist patriarch (sect founder)

1. Fo2: [abbreviation] →
   Fo2tuo2 佛陀 : [Buddhism] Buddha [loanword; transliteration for Buddha: [Sanskrit] The Awakened One (see note below)]
   1. Fo2: [phonetically used Chinese character] [now only refers to Buddha/Buddhism]
   2. tuo2 [used only in compound words]: [phonetically used Chinese character]; [literally: a steep bank]
2. zu3 [used only in compound words (or as a family name)]: an ancestor, a founder

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]

niao4 shi1 de5 du3gui3

• Simplified characters: 尿湿的赌鬼 / Traditional characters: 尿濕的賭鬼
• Back-translation of Mandarin: urine-soaked habitual gamblers
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): niao SE duh DOO-gway [Taiwan Mandarin pronunciation (FAQ: Variety of Chinese)]
• Translated from script English: p***-soaked pikers
• Context: “Heart of Gold,” Wash, referring to Rance’s men now trapped on Serenity

niao4 shi1 de5

to be urine-soaked

1. niao4: urine
2. shi1: to be soaked, to be wet
3. de5: [noun-modifier marker] [here: integrated adjectival clause (restrictive relative clause)]

du3gui3

a habitual/confirmed gambler

1. du3: to gamble
2. gui3: [suffix for insults]; [literally: a demon, a ghost]

Lan2dan1 jiang4!

• Simplified characters: 阑殚酱！ / Traditional characters: 闌殫醬！
• Back-translation of Mandarin: Worn-out sauce!
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): LAN-dan JIANG!
• Translated from script English: Weak-ass sauce!
• Context: “Heart of Gold” [Cut], Mal, referring to his fancy drink

lan2dan1

tired and exhausted

1. lan2 [used only in compound words]: declining (in vigor), exhausted
2. dan1 [used only in compound words]: to exhaust, [Literary Chinese] = jin4 尽 (traditional: 盡 ): [vernacular Mandarin] to give all one has (to an activity)

jiang4

a thick sauce, a paste

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: “Heart of Gold,” Visible Chinese, on Inara’s hourglass stand, visible as Mal enters after eavesdropping

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

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

Wan2mei3 Mao1

• Simplified characters: 完美猫 / Traditional characters: 完美貓
• Back-translation of Mandarin: Perfect Cat
• Context: “Heart of Gold,” Visible Chinese, on Jayne’s T-shirt (Jayne T-shirt list), with picture of tiger head, visible when he wakes up

wan2mei3

to be perfect, to be consummate

1. wan2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: whole, complete
2. mei3: to be perfect, to be superior

mao1

a cat