Serenity (movie)

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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Bai4tuo1, an1jing4 yi1dian3!

Simplified characters: 拜托，安静一点！ / Traditional characters: 拜托，安靜一點！
Back-translation of Mandarin: Please be quiet!
Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): BAI-tuo, AN-jing-eedyen!
Translated from script English: We will enjoy your silence now!
Context: Serenity (movie), Teacher, to disruptive Boy #2

bai4tuo1

[polite] to request (of someone); [colloquial] please I beg you, [Taiwan Mandarin] [set phrase] Give me a break!

bai4: to bow (for respect or obedience)
tuo1: to request a favor, to entrust

an1jing4 yi1dian3

to be quiet

an1jing4: to be quiet, to be peaceful
1. an1: to be calm, to be peaceful
2. jing4: to be calm, to be still
yi1dian3: a little, a bit
1. yi1 [pronounced “yi4” before a 3rd-tone syllable]: one, a
2. dian3: [classifier for small amounts]; [literally: a spot, a dot]

See also:

Bai4tuo1, an1jing4 yi1dian3! (Serenity [novelization])

Dong3 le5 ma5? Ni3 chou2lian3, you3 mei2you3?

Simplified characters: 懂了吗？你愁脸，有没有？ / Traditional characters: 懂了嗎？你愁臉，有沒有？
Back-translation of Mandarin: Understood? Do you have a worried face?
Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): DONG-luh-MAH? [Ni cho lyen, yo may yo?] [see note below]
Translated from script English: Are we clear here?
Context: Serenity (movie), Mal, to Simon to end argument then more to self

dong3 le5 ma5

understood?

dong3: to understand
le5: [completion marker]
ma5: [marker for questions]

ni3 chou2lian3, you3 mei2you3?

do you have a worried face?

ni3: you
chou2lian3: a worried face

chou2: to worry
lian3: a face, a facial expression

you3 mei2you3: to have (or not)?, is there (or not)?

you3: to have, there is
mei2you3: to not have, there is not
1. mei2: not
2. you3: to have, there is

Note:

Pronunciation: Mal sounds like “Dong-luh-mah? Ni chow len, yo may yo?” instead of “Dong-luh-mah? Ni cho lyen, yo may yo?” The second, “worried face,” line isn’t in the published script (nor in the Serenity [novelization], p. 52). It seems to be a callback to Simon’s explanation of showing fear versus anger at the beginning of their conversation.

See also:

dong3 le5 ma5? (Serenity [novelization])
dong3 ma5 (“The Train Job,” “Out of Gas,” “The Message,” “Heart of Gold”)

Ai1ya1. Tian1 a5…

Simplified/Traditional characters: 哎呀。天啊……
Back-translation of Mandarin: Ah, oh God...
Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): Ai-yah. Tyen-ah...
Translated from script English: Merciless hell...
Context: Serenity (movie), Wash, upon hearing of Reavers [also described in Serenity (novelization), p. 76]

ai1ya

[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!

tian1 a5

[colloquial] Oh God!, Good heavens!, My lord!

tian1: heaven, God
a5: [marker of direct address of someone (vocative) or exclamation]

Notes:

The captions (region 1 DVD) completely omit this term.
Also: tian1 na5: 天哪 : [colloquial] Oh God!, Good heavens!, My lord!; tian1: heaven, God; na5 [variant of a5 啊 after syllable ending in -N]: [marker of direct address of someone (vocative) or exclamation]

See also:

Ai1ya1! (“Our Mrs. Reynolds”)
Ai1ya1! Huai4le5. (“Serenity, Part 1”)
Ai1ya1. Wo3men5 wan2le5. (“Serenity, Part 2”)
Lao3tian1, bu4. (“Safe”)
Lao3tian1ye2. (“Ariel”)
Tian1sha1 de5 e4mo2. (“Ariel”)
tian1 xiao3de2 (“Bushwhacked,” “Safe,” “The Message”)
Wo3 de5 tian1, a5. (“Bushwhacked”)

Da4jia1 zuo4xia5!

Simplified/Traditional characters: 大家坐下！
Back-translation of Mandarin: Everybody sit down!
Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): [(Not in script) Da jah tzuo sha!]
Translated from script English: [Not in script]
Context: Serenity (movie), Zoe, to fellow hovercraft occupants before U-turn

da4jia1

everyone; [literally: an influential family]

da4: to be big, to be great
jia1: a family, a household

zuo4xia5

to sit down

zuo4: to sit
xia4: down, downward

Note:

Translation suggestion from tmhsiao’s blog.

Ni3 zhao3si3 ma5? Ni3 yao4 wo3 kai1qiang1?

Simplified characters: 你找死吗？你要我开枪？ / Traditional characters: 你找死嗎？你要我開槍？
Back-translation of Mandarin: Are you looking to die? You want me to shoot?
Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): Nee TZAO ss-MA? Nee-YOW wuh-KAI CHANG? [Taiwan Mandarin pronunciation (FAQ: Variety of Chinese)]
Translated from script English: You wanna bullet? You wanna bullet right through your throat?
Context: Serenity (movie), Mal, to Simon after getting punched [also described in Serenity (novelization), p. 81]

ni3 zhao3si3 ma5

[contemptuous] Are you looking to die?

ni3: you (singular)
zhao3si3: to court death
1. zhao3: to seek
2. si3: to die
ma5: [marker for questions]

ni3 yao4 wo3 kai1qiang1?

You want me to shoot?

ni3 yao4: you want
1. ni3: you (singular)
2. yao4: to want, wish
wo3 kai1qiang1: I shoot
1. wo3: I
2. kai1qiang1: to shoot, to open fire
  1. kai1: to set in motion; [literally: to open]
  2. qiang1: a gun

Piao4liang5 de5 xiao3jie5, [ni3 gu4 wo3 he2 ni3 xiang1hao3. Wo3 hui4 rong2 ni3 sheng4kai1 ru2 hua1]…

Simplified characters: 漂亮的小姐，你雇我和你相好。我会容你盛开如花…… / Traditional characters: 漂亮的小姐，你雇我和你相好。我會容你盛開如花……
Back-translation of Mandarin: Beautiful young lady, if you hire me to have an affair with you, I’ll let you be like a flower in full bloom...
Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): PEOW-liang de shaojie, nee GOO wuo HUHnee SHANG-hao. Wuh HWAY wrongnee shungkai roo hua...
Translated from script English: Pretty lady, hire me for the night and I'll open you like a flower...
Context: Serenity (movie) [Partially cut], Man (on Beaumonde; off-screen), to Woman on street [also described in Serenity (novelization), p. 103]

piao4liang5 de5 xiao3jie5

a beautiful young lady

piao4liang5 de5: to be beautiful, to be handsome
1. piao4 [used only in the compound word piao4liang5]
2. liang4: to be bright, to be light
3. de5: [noun-modifier marker] [here: integrated adjectival clause (restrictive relative clause)]
xiao3jie5: a young lady, a miss
1. xiao3: to be young
2. jie3 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: a young woman

ni3 gu4 wo3 he2 ni3 xiang1hao3

you hire me to have an affair with you

ni3 gu4 wo3: you hire me
1. ni3: you (singular)
2. gu4: to hire
3. wo3: me
he2 ni3 xiang1hao3: to have an affair with you
1. he2: with
2. ni3: you (singular)
3. xiang1hao3: to have an affair with, a lover
  1. xiang1: each other
  2. hao3: to be good

wo3 hui4 rong2 ni3 sheng4kai1 ru2 hua1

I’ll let you be like a flower in full bloom

wo3 hui4 rong2 ni3: I’ll let you
1. wo3: I
2. hui4: will, to be sure to
3. rong2: to allow, to let
4. ni3: you (singular)
sheng4kai1 ru2 hua1: to be like a flower in full bloom
1. sheng4kai1: in full bloom
  1. sheng4: to be flourishing
  2. kai1: to open
2. ru2: to be like, as if
3. hua1: a flower

Note:

The planet Beaumonde is probably named for the term beau monde (from French, literally: ‘fine world’), which refers to the world and people of high society / fashionable society.

See also:

Piao4liang5 de5 xiao3jie5, bu4li3 ta1, gu4 wo3… (Serenity [movie])
Wo3 tai4tai5 bu4 piao4liang5! (Serenity [movie])

Wo3 hen3 diu1lian3. Wo3 mei2you3 chi1 Fruity Oaty Bar.

Simplified characters: 我很丢脸。我没有吃Fruity Oaty Bar。 / Traditional characters: 我很丟臉。我沒有吃Fruity Oaty Bar。
Back-translation of Mandarin: I am very ashamed. I didn’t eat a Fruity Oaty Bar.
Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): [(Not in script) Wuo hun dio lyen. Wuo may yo chr Fruity Oaty Bar.]
Translated from script English: [Not in script]
Context: Serenity (movie), Shamed Gentleman (off-screen), in Fruity Oaty Bar commercial shown in Beaumonde’s The Maidenhead bar

wo3 hen3 diu1lian3

I am very ashamed

wo3: I
hen3: very much
diu1lian3: to to feel ashamed; [literally: to lose face]
1. diu1: to lose (misplace)
2. lian3: a face

wo3 mei2you3 chi1

I did not eat, I have not eaten

wo3: I
mei2you3: did not [+verb], have not [+verb as if past participle]
1. mei2: not
2. you3: to have, there is
chi1: to eat

Fruity Oaty Bar

[name of a fictional packaged food product]

Notes:

The Shamed Gentleman sounds like “Wuo hun diao nyen” instead of “Wuo hun dio lyen.” In the second syllable of diu1lian3, the N (“nyen”) for standard L (“lyen”) could be Taiwan Mandarin pronunciation or Cantonese-influenced Mandarin.
The planet Beaumonde is probably named for the term beau monde (from French, literally: ‘fine world’), which refers to the world and people of high society / fashionable society.
Thank you to Craig Kurumada for the suggested Chinese translation.

See also:

Wo3 hen3 diu1lian3. Wo3 mei2you3 chi1 Fruity Oaty Bar. (Serenity DVD)

Eto kuram na smekh! [Not Chinese]

Russian Cyrillic characters: Это курам на смех!
Back-translation of Russian: That’s ridiculous!
Script Russian translation (phonetic for English speakers): Eta Kooram Nah Smech!
Translated from script English: [Not in script]
Context: Serenity (movie), Simon, used as safeword to put River to sleep

Russian

eto

that, this [demonstrative pronoun]

kuram na smekh

[idiom] ridiculous; [literally: to make the hens laugh]

kuram: for hens [dative-case plural of kuritsa: hen]
na: intended for
smekh: laughter

Notes:

The captions (region 1 DVD) incorrectly say it’s Chinese, but say it’s a foreign language in the deleted-scene version.
Idiomatic meaning from data formerly on Cornell University’s Russian Language Program site (russian.dmll.cornell.edu/russian.web/BODY/WIN_1251/SME/SME.HTM); literal meaning from various Serenity fans and Provérbios russos, which gives the English equivalent of “it is enough to make a cat laugh.”
Speaking of the Tams and Russian, tam там is the Russian word for ‘there’.

See also:

Eto kuram na smekh! (Serenity [novelization])

Gou4 huang1tang2.

Simplified characters: 够荒唐。 / Traditional characters: 夠荒唐。
Back-translation of Mandarin: This is ridiculous enough.
Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): Go HWONG-TONG.
Translated from script English: Enough of this nonsense.
Context: Serenity (movie), Jayne, to self about keeping River [skipped in Serenity (novelization), p. 178]

gou4

to be enough

huang1tang2

to be ridiculous, to be absurd

huang1: to be ridiculous, to be absurd
tang2 [used only in compound words (or as a dynasty/family name)]: exaggerated

Zhe4ge5 ji4hua4 zhen1 ke3pa4!

Simplified characters: 这个计划真可怕！ / Traditional characters: 這個計劃真可怕！
Back-translation of Mandarin: This plan is truly horrible!
Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): Juhguh JEE HUA jun kuhPAH!
Translated from script English: There's nothing about this plan that isn't horrific!
Context: Serenity (movie) [Mostly inaudible], Wash, about Mal’s dangerous plan [also described in Serenity (novelization), p. 195]

zhe4ge5 ji4hua4

this plan

zhe4ge5: this, this one
1. zhe4: this
2. ge5: [general classifier for nouns]
ji4hua4: a plan
1. ji4: a plan, a stratagem
2. hua4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: a plan

zhen1 ke3pa4

to be truly horrible

zhen1: truly, indeed
ke3pa4: horrible, fearful
1. ke3: [prefix turning verb to adjective meaning ‘capable of’, ‘-able’/‘-ible’]
2. pa4: to fear, to dread

Ren2ci2 de5 Shang4di4, qing3 dai4 wo3 zou3

Simplified characters: 仁慈的上帝，请带我走 / Traditional characters: 仁慈的上帝，請帶我走
Back-translation of Mandarin: Merciful God, please take me away
Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): RUNtse de SHANG-DEE, ching DAIwuhtzo
Translated from script English: Merciful God please take me away
Context: Serenity (movie), River, upon becoming psychically overwhelmed on Miranda

ren2ci2 de5 Shang4di4

merciful God

ren2ci2 de5: to be benevolent, to be merciful
1. ren2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: compassionate
2. ci2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: compassionate, kind [adjective]
3. de5: [noun-modifier marker] [here: integrated adjectival clause (restrictive relative clause)]
Shang4di4: (Christian) God
1. shang4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: superior, higher
2. di4 [used only in compound words]: God, Supreme Being

qing3 dai4 wo3 zou3

please take me away

qing3: please (for requests)
dai4: to take, to carry
wo3: me
zou3: to go away

See also:

Ren2ci2 de5 Fo2zu3… (“Our Mrs. Reynolds”)
Ren2ci2 de5 Fo2zu3, qing3 bao3you4 wo3men5… (Serenity [movie])
Ren2ci2 de5 Shang4di4, qing3 dai4 wo3 zou3 (Serenity [novelization])
Shang4di4 de5 dan4! (Serenity: The Other Half)

Wo3 xiang3 mei4 er3, mei4 xin1, bian4 shi2tou5

Simplified characters: 我想昧耳，昧心，变石头 / Traditional characters: 我想昧耳，昧心，變石頭
Back-translation of Mandarin: I want to darken my ears and heart and become a stone [see note below]
Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): WUOshang mayer, maysheen, BYEN shr-to
Translated from script English: I will close my ears and my heart and I will be a stone
Context: Serenity (movie), River, continuing to pray in Chinese after breaking into English

wo3 xiang3 mei4 er3, mei4 xin1

I want to darken my ears and heart [see note below]

wo3 xiang3: I want to
1. wo3: I
2. xiang3: to wish, to want to
mei4 er3, mei4 xin1: to darken ears and heart
1. mei4 er3: to darken ear(s)
  1. mei4: to darken, to hide (something)
  2. er3: an ear
2. mei4 xin1: to darken a heart [also mei4xin1: to ignore one’s conscience]
  1. mei4: to darken, to hide (something)
  2. xin1: a heart, the mind

bian4 shi2tou5

to become a stone

bian4: to become, to be transformed
shi2tou5: a stone, a rock
1. shi2 [used only in compound words (or as a family name)]: a stone, a rock
2. tou5: [noun suffix]

Note:

Another possibility: wo3 xiang3 mei2 er3 mei2 xin1 我想没耳没心 (traditional: 我想沒耳沒心 ): I want to have no ears and no heart; wo3: I; xiang3: to wish, to want to; mei2: [abbreviation] → mei2you3 没有 (traditional: 沒有 ): to have no [+NOUN], -less (mei2: not; you3: to have, there is); er3: an ear; mei2: to have no [+NOUN], -less; xin1: a heart, the mind [also mei2xin1: to be mindless]; also proposed by Chrysocome on the Serenity Oz message boards (formerly at serenitymovie.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=81&start=75)

See also:

Wo3 xiang3 mei4 er3, mei4 xin1, bian4 shi2tou5 (Serenity [novelization])

Cut Chinese Dialog

Shen2me5?

Simplified characters: 什么？ / Traditional characters: 什麼？
Back-translation of Mandarin: What?
Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): Shuh-MUH?
Translated from script English: I'm sorry?
Context: Serenity (movie) [Cut], Teacher, to Young River as she pipes up [also described in Serenity (novelization), p. 65, “Teacher” named “Professor Rao”]

shen2me5

[usually pronounced “she2me5”]: what?

shen2 [used only in the compound word shen2me5]
me5: [suffix for question words]

See also:

Shen2me5? (“Serenity, Part 2,” “Shindig”)
Zhe4 shi4 shen2me5 lan4dong1xi5!? (“Jaynestown”)

Bi4zui3. Rong2 wo3men5 fa1cai2.

Simplified characters: 闭嘴。容我们发财。 / Traditional characters: 閉嘴。容我們發財。
Back-translation of Mandarin: Shut up. Allow us to get rich.
Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): BEE-tzway. Wrong wuomun FAH-TSAI.
Translated from script English: Shut up and make us wealthy.
Context: Serenity (movie) [Cut], Mal, to uncooperative Trade Agent [also described in Serenity (novelization), p. 61]

bi4zui3

[slang] Shut up!

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

rong2 wo3men5 fa1cai2

allow us to get rich

rong2: to allow, to let
wo3men5: us
1. wo3: me
2. men5: [suffix for human plural words]
fa1cai2: to get rich
1. fa1: to develop, [slang] to make a fortune
2. cai2 [used only in compound words]: wealth

Note:

Also: Gong1xi3fa1cai2 (Cantonese pronunciation: Gung1hei2faat3coi4 [“Gung hay fat choy”]) 恭喜发财 (traditional: 恭喜發財 ): [set phrase] I wish you a happy and prosperous new year, Happy New Year; gong1xi3: [set phrase] congratulations (gong1 [used only in compound words]: respectful; xi3 [used only in compound words]: happiness, joy); fa1cai2: to get rich [see main entry above]

See also:

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

Bian1da3 ta1men5 de5 bei4 jiu4 gou4 le5.

Simplified characters: 鞭打她们的背就够了。 / Traditional characters: 鞭打她們的背就夠了。
Back-translation of Mandarin: Whipping their [female] backs is just good enough.
Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): Byen dahTAHmenduhBAY joGOluh.
Translated from script English: A switch to those girls' backsides is just good enough.
Context: Serenity (movie) [Deleted scene on DVD], Inara, to Companion Sheydra about gossipy Companion trainees [also described in Serenity (novelization), p. 100]

bian1da3 ta1men5 de5 bei4

whipping their [female] backs

bian1da3: to whip, to flog
1. bian1 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: to lash, to flog
2. da3: to hit, to strike
ta1men5 de5: their [female]
1. ta1men5: they [female]
  1. ta1: she
  2. men5: [suffix for human plural words]
2. de5: [noun-modifier marker] [here: possessive (genitive), ’s, of]
bei4: one’s back, the back side of something

jiu4 gou4 le5

to be just good enough

jiu4: just, merely
gou4: to be enough, to be adequate
le5: [marker for exclamations]

Note:

Also: gou4 le5: That’s enough!, Shut up!

Wo3 dui4 ni3 bu4 wen2 bu4 jian4…

Simplified characters: 我对你不闻不见…… / Traditional characters: 我對你不聞不見……
Back-translation of Mandarin: I don’t hear and don’t see you...
Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): Wuo DWAY-nee BOO-woon, boo-JEN...
Translated from script English: I neither see nor hear you...
Context: Serenity (movie) [Cut], Woman (on Beaumonde), in reply to Man’s proposition [also described in Serenity (novelization), p. 103]

wo3 dui4 ni3

I in regard to you

wo3: I
dui4: toward, in regard to
ni3: you (singular)

bu4 wen2 bu4 jian4

don’t hear and don’t see

bu4: not
wen2: [Literary Chinese] = ting1 听 (traditional: 聽 ): [vernacular Mandarin] to hear
bu4 [pronounced “bu2” before a 4th-tone syllable]: not
jian4: to see

Note:

The planet Beaumonde is probably named for the term beau monde (from French, literally: ‘fine world’), which refers to the world and people of high society / fashionable society.

Piao4liang5 de5 xiao3jie5, bu4li3 ta1, gu4 wo3…

Simplified/Traditional characters: 漂亮的小姐，不理他，雇我……
Back-translation of Mandarin: Beautiful young lady, ignore him and hire me...
Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): PEOW-liang de shaojie, Booleetah, GOOwo...
Translated from script English: Pretty lady, forget him and hire me...
Context: Serenity (movie) [Cut], Man (on Beaumonde), to Zoe about Wash [also described in Serenity (novelization), p. 104]

piao4liang5 de5 xiao3jie5

beautiful young lady

piao4liang5 de5: to be beautiful, to be handsome
1. piao4 [used only in the compound word piao4liang5]
2. liang4: to be bright, to be light
3. de5: [noun-modifier marker] [here: integrated adjectival clause (restrictive relative clause)]
xiao3jie5: a young lady, a miss
1. xiao3: to be young
2. jie3 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: a young woman

bu4li3 ta1

ignore him

bu4li3: to ignore, to pay no attention
1. bu4: not
2. li3: to take notice, to pay attention to
ta1: him

gu4 wo3

hire me

gu4: to hire
wo3: me

Note:

The planet Beaumonde is probably named for the term beau monde (from French, literally: ‘fine world’), which refers to the world and people of high society / fashionable society.

See also:

Piao4liang5 de5 xiao3jie5, [ni3 gu4 wo3 he2 ni3 xiang1hao3. Wo3 hui4 rong2 ni3 sheng4kai1 ru2 hua1]… (Serenity [movie])
Wo3 tai4tai5 bu4 piao4liang5! (Serenity [movie])

Wo3 tai4tai5 bu4 piao4liang5!

Simplified/Traditional characters: 我太太不漂亮！
Back-translation of Mandarin: My wife is not beautiful!
Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): Wo TAI-TAI boo PEOW-liang!
Translated from script English: My wife is not pretty!
Context: Serenity (movie) [Cut], Wash, in reply to Man (on Beaumonde)’s proposition to Zoe [also described in Serenity (novelization), p. 104]

wo3 tai4tai5

my wife

wo3 de5: my
1. wo3: I
2. [understood: de5 的 : [noun-modifier marker] [here: possessive (genitive), ’s, of]]
tai4tai5: [meaning borrowed from non-Mandarin Chinese] a wife
1. tai4: [repeated with neutral 5th tone] grand, great

bu4 piao4liang5

to be not beautiful

bu4 [pronounced “bu2” before a 4th-tone syllable]: not
piao4liang5: to be beautiful, to be handsome
1. piao4 [used only in the compound word piao4liang5]
2. liang4: to be bright, to be light

Note:

The planet Beaumonde is probably named for the term beau monde (from French, literally: ‘fine world’), which refers to the world and people of high society / fashionable society.

See also:

Piao4liang5 de5 xiao3jie5, bu4li3 ta1, gu4 wo3… (Serenity [movie])
Piao4liang5 de5 xiao3jie5, [ni3 gu4 wo3 he2 ni3 xiang1hao3. Wo3 hui4 rong2 ni3 sheng4kai1 ru2 hua1]… (Serenity [movie])

Ren2ci2 de5 Fo2zu3, qing3 bao3you4 wo3men5…

Simplified characters: 仁慈的佛祖，请保佑我们…… / Traditional characters: 仁慈的佛祖，請保佑我們……
Back-translation of Mandarin: Merciful Buddha, please bless and protect us...
Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): RUNtse de FWOtzoo, ching baoYO wuomun...
Translated from script English: Oh merciful Buddha protect us... [see Note 1 below]
Context: Serenity (movie) [Cut], Inara, when Mal’s dangerous plan starts to become apparent [also described in Serenity (novelization), p. 195]

ren2ci2 de5 Fo2zu3

merciful Buddha

ren2ci2 de5: to be benevolent, to be merciful
1. ren2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: compassionate
2. ci2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: compassionate, kind [adjective]
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 2 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

qing3 bao3you4 wo3men5

please bless and protect us

qing3: please (for requests)
bao3you4: (May God) protect and bless
1. bao3 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: to protect (life, civil rights, etc.)
2. you4 [used only in compound words]: to help, to protect
wo3men5: us
1. wo3: me
2. men5: [suffix for human plural words]

Notes:

Oh: As an actual prayer (not a generic “Oh my God!” sort of interjection), the script English would make more sense as the vocative (direct address of someone): “O merciful Buddha, protect us…”
Buddha: The Chinese characters were used phonetically not for Modern Standard Mandarin (Putonghua) Fo2tuo2 (“fuo-tuo”) but for an older pronunciation like “biuət-da.” For reconstructed Middle Chinese (220–960 CE) pronunciations of the syllables of Fo2tuo2, see Bernhard Karlgren, Analytic Dictionary of Chinese and Sino-Japanese (1923; reprint, New York: Dover, 1991), entry nos. 47, 1011.
Also:
- Fo2jiao4 佛教 : Buddhism; Fo2: [abbreviation] → Fo2tuo2 佛陀 : [Buddhism] Buddha [see main entry above]; jiao4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: religion
- Fo2jiao4tu2 佛教徒 : a Buddhist; Fo2jiao4: Buddhism [see above]; tu2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: a follower

See also:

Ren2ci2 de5 Fo2zu3… (“Our Mrs. Reynolds”)
Ren2ci2 de5 Shang4di4, qing3 dai4 wo3 zou3 (Serenity [movie])
Zhen1 mei2 nai4xing4 de5 Fo2zu3 (“Heart of Gold”)

Visible Chinese

Ning2jing4

Simplified characters: 宁静 / Traditional characters: 寧靜
Back-translation of Mandarin: Tranquil
Translated from the English: Serenity [Serenity (movie) version (“Serenity” translation comparison)]
Context (1): Serenity (movie), Visible Chinese, on the ship Serenity’s logo, visible at beginning and end of movie
Context (2): Serenity (movie), Visible Chinese, in logo, towards the end of the first and second American trailers

ning2jing4

to be peaceful, to be tranquil

ning2 [used only in compound words (or as a place name)]: peaceful, tranquil
jing4: to be calm, to be still

See also:

An1ning2 (Serenity: The Official Visual Companion)
Jing4 (Serenity [movie])
Jing3wei4; Ping2jing4 (Firefly Props and Merchandise)
Ning2jing4 (Serenity [novelization], Serenity comic books, Serenity: The Official Visual Companion, Serenity DVD Official Site)
Ping2jing4 (“Serenity, Part 1,” “The Train Job,” “Safe,” “The Message,” Firefly Press Kit)

Ku Ma N; Ku Ma N [Not Chinese]

Japanese characters: クマン　クマン
Back-translation of Japanese: [decorative gibberish (see note below)]
Context: Serenity (movie), Visible Chinese, on door in dining room to left of food lockers as Mal walks through from bridge to engine room at beginning of movie, and later visible behind Mal and Simon as they argue after River gets triggered

Japanese characters used as decorative gibberish

ku ma n; ku ma n

[see note below]

Note:

Japanese substitution code: The Firefly press kit used English and a cipher of Japanese phonetic characters for the English letters as decorative gibberish (Japanese code details), but クマン　クマン would just be H J Y H J Y (all right-index-finger letters on the keyboard).

Jing4

Simplified characters: 静 / Traditional characters: 靜
Back-translation of Mandarin: Calm
Translated from the English: [(Not shown) Serenity (see Note 1 below)]
Context: Serenity (movie), Visible Chinese, on left side of orange-and-red stickers with sci-fi stylized BDM/0422 (see Note 2 below) in Serenity’s cargo bay, storage locker, corridor, and sides of pilot and co-pilot consoles, first visible on Simon’s right as he enters cargo bay during opening credits

jing4

to be calm, to be still

Notes:

Serenity: Jing4 seems to be intended as an abbreviation of the name of the ship, Serenity: ning2jing4 宁静 (traditional: 寧靜 ): to be peaceful, to be tranquil; ning2 [used only in compound words (or as a place name)]: peaceful, tranquil.
BDM: BDM/0422 is a reference to “Big Damn Movie” (the nickname for Serenity [movie], ultimately from Zoe’s Big damn heroes line in the Firefly episode “Safe”) and to April 22 [2005] (original release date of movie, changed to September 30, 2005).

See also:

Jing3wei4; Ping2jing4 (Firefly Props and Merchandise)
Ning2jing4 (Serenity [movie], Serenity [novelization], Serenity comic books, Serenity: The Official Visual Companion, Serenity DVD Official Site)
Ping2jing4 (“Serenity, Part 1,” “The Train Job,” “Safe,” “The Message,” Firefly Press Kit)

Wan2 Lin2 [Not meaningful Chinese]

Simplified characters: 丸临 / Traditional characters: 丸臨
Decryption of Chinese cipher: [substitution code (Chinese code details): F D (see note below)]
Context (1): Serenity (movie), Visible Chinese, on side of hovercraft mule and by its parking-brake lever at front
Context (2): Serenity (movie), Visible Chinese, on side of Serenity’s cargo bay exit as Kaylee tells Simon not to worry about River on the heist and on cargo bay by controls for doors as Simon opens them

Chinese Code 2

wan2 lin2

[substitution code (Chinese code details): F D (see note below)]

Note:

D: The code for F D is probably just the keyboard left index-finger and middle-finger letters. But the D might be for “danger” because the Chinese characters often appear with or near words for that: aapadaaM आपदां : [Sanskrit] dangers, and للخطر [?lelkhetr]: [Arabic] danger. In Firefly they used the character wei1 危 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: danger.

See also:

Wan2 Lin2 (Serenity: The Official Visual Companion)
Yin2; Bing3; Wan2 Lin2 (Serenity Official Site)
Yin2; Wan2 Lin2 (Serenity Official Site)

Ding1xiang1 Fa2 Bing3; Zhang4 Diu1 Chou3 Jiu3; Nai3 Zhong1 Zhuan1 Wan4 [Mostly not meaningful Chinese]

Simplified characters: 丁香伐丙、丈丢丑久、乃中专万 / Traditional characters: 丁香伐丙、丈丟丑久、乃中專萬
Back-translation of Mandarin: Lilac [(Not shown) [probably decorative gibberish]]; [substitution code (Chinese code details): [(Not shown) S; E Y M N; Mand (see Note 1 below)]
Translated/encrypted from the English: Lilac [(Not shown) [probably decorative gibberish]]; [substitution code (Chinese code details): [(Not shown) S; E Y M N; Mand (see Note 1 below)]
Context: Serenity (movie), Visible Chinese, on screen at trading station with Welcome to الليلك [[?alenyelj], lilac in Arabic (see Note 2 below)] and Lilac and 2812 in the first international trailer and the second American trailer

Ding1xiang1

Lilac [name of a fictional moon in Serenity (movie)], a lilac

ding1: [Chinese character possibly used phonetically]; [literally: fourth of the Ten Heavenly Stems (see Note 2 below), fourth (in a series)]
xiang1: to be fragrant, to be aromatic

fa2

[probably decorative gibberish]; [literally: to cut down]

Chinese Code 1 ↓

bing3

[substitution code (Chinese code details): S]

Chinese Codes 1 and 2 ↓

zhang4 diu1 chou3 jiu3; nai3 zhong1 zhuan1 wan4

[substitution code (Chinese code details): E[1] Y[1] M[1] N[2]; M[2] A[2] N[1] D[1] (see Note 1 below)]

Notes:

E Y M N; Mand: The codes for E Y M N and Mand probably represent letters from the name of Serenity (movie) graphic designer Geoffrey Mandel, whose full surname appears in Chinese code on the label of a green bottle from Beaumonde’s The Maidenhead bar (see: Yin2; Lan2; Jiu3 Tuo1 Le4 Zhu3 Wu1 Zha4 Wei2 Zha4 Zhu3 Nai3 Wan2 Tuo1 Zhi1 Zhong1; Jiu3 Pie3 Nai3; Chou3 Yi1 Zhuan1 Wan4 Zhang4 Gai4; Bing3; 750 Zhu3 Tuo1 Wan2, Serenity Props and Merchandise).
Arabic: The Arabic is appropriate because the English word lilac comes, via French, from the Arabic word lilak (ultimately traceable to nila: [Sanskrit] dark blue). According to various online Arabic dictionaries, الليلك [?alenyelj] should probably be النيلج [?alelyelk], which in romanized form also looks more like the centuries-old form lilak.

Stems and branches: Chinese astrology and ancient Chinese time-reckoning make use of

Ten Heavenly Stems (or Ten Celestial Stems) (tian1gan1 天干 : Ten Heavenly Stems; tian1: heaven; gan1 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: Heavenly Stems).
Twelve Earthly Branches (or Twelve Terrestrial Branches), related to the twelve year-signs of the zodiac (di4zhi1 地支 : Twelve Earthly Branches; di4: the earth; zhi1 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: Earthly Branches).

The table below shows the stems, branches, and Chinese zodiac animals:

Stems and Branches
^aThe Ten Heavenly Stems, especially the first few, are also used for labeling items in a series or list like 1, 2, 3,…; A, B, C,…; and Roman numerals I, II, III,…. ^bUnlike the other 11 Chinese zodiac animal names, the term for the rat is not an independent word in Modern Standard Mandarin (Putonghua). Thus, one uses, e.g., da4shu3 大鼠 : a rat (da4: to be big; shu3 [used only in compound words]: a mouse, a rat). lao3shu3 老鼠 : a mouse, a rat (lao3: [prefix to show respect to someone], [literally: to be old]; shu3 [used only in compound words]: a mouse, a rat). xiao3shu3 小鼠 : a mouse (xiao3: to be small; shu3 [used only in compound words]: a mouse, a rat). ^cTraditional characters: long2 龙 (traditional: 龍 ) ma3 马 (traditional: 馬 ) ji1 鸡 (traditional: 雞 ) zhu1 猪 (traditional: 豬 )
Ten Heavenly Stems^a	甲 jia3 1	乙 yi3 2	丙 bing3 3	丁 ding1 4	戊 wu4 5	己 ji3 6	庚 geng1 7	辛 xin1 8	壬 ren2 9	癸 gui3 10	—
Twelve Earthly Branches	子 zi3 1	丑 chou3 2	寅 yin2 3	卯 mao3 4	辰 chen2 5	巳 si4 6	午 wu3 7	未 wei4 8	申 shen1 9	酉 you3 10	戌 xu1 11	亥 hai4 12
Branch-Associated Zodiac Animals	鼠^b shu3 Rat 1	牛 niu2 Ox 2	虎 hu3 Tiger 3	兔 tu4 Rabbit 4	龙^c long2 Dragon 5	蛇 she2 Snake 6	马^c ma3 Horse 7	羊 yang2 Goat 8	猴 hou2 Monkey 9	鸡^c ji1 Rooster 10	狗 gou3 Dog 11	猪^c zhu1 Pig 12

More in the site FAQ and at The Mathematics of the Chinese Calendar

Also, coincidentally: zhong1zhuan1 中专 (traditional: 中專 : [abbreviation] → zhong1deng3 zhuan1ke1 xue2xiao4 中等专科学校 (traditional: 中等專科學校 ): a technical high school, a specialized secondary school; zhong1deng3: secondary [+NOUN] (zhong1 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: intermediate [adjective]; deng3 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: a rank, a class (e.g., quality level)); zhuan1ke1 xue2xiao4: a technical/professional school (zhuan1ke1: professional training [zhuan1: to be focused, to be concentrated; ke1 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: a branch of study]; xue2xiao4: a school [xue2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: a school; xiao4 [used only in compound words]: a school])

Ci2shan4 Fu2wu4 Tuan2ti3

Simplified characters: 慈善服务团体 / Traditional characters: 慈善服務團體
Back-translation of Mandarin: Philanthropic Service Organization
Context: Serenity (movie), Visible Chinese, on Jayne’s blue T-shirt (Jayne T-shirt list) with pictures of people, somewhat visible during cargo bay clean-up with Kaylee

ci2shan4 fu2wu4 tuan2ti3

a philanthropic organization

ci2shan4: to be philanthropic, to be charitable
1. ci2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: compassionate, kind [adjective]
2. shan4: to be charitable, to be kind
fu2wu4: service
1. fu2: to serve
2. wu4 [used only in compound words]: business, affairs
tuan2ti3: an organization, a group (of people)
1. tuan2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: an organization, a group (of people)
2. ti3 [used only in compound words]: a body

See also:

You3 Ying2yang3 de5 Shi2pin3; -de5 Xiao3jing1ling2, Jiu3ba1; -shan4 Fu2wu4 Tuan2- (Firefly Props and Merchandise, Serenity Props and Merchandise)

Cha2

Simplified/Traditional characters: 茶
Back-translation of Mandarin: Tea
Context: Serenity (movie), Visible Chinese, on yellow banner in Beaumonde street scene

cha2

tea

Note:

The planet Beaumonde is probably named for the term beau monde (from French, literally: ‘fine world’), which refers to the world and people of high society / fashionable society.

See also:

Cha2 (“The Message”)

Hao3chi1; Tian2

Simplified/Traditional characters: 好吃、甜
Back-translation of Mandarin: Tasty; Sweet
Context: Serenity (movie), Visible Chinese, on monitor, in Fruity Oaty Bar commercial shown in Beaumonde’s The Maidenhead bar

hao3chi1

to be tasty

hao3: to be good
chi1: to eat

tian2

to be sweet

Note:

The planet Beaumonde is probably named for the term beau monde (from French, literally: ‘fine world’), which refers to the world and people of high society / fashionable society.

See also:

Hao3chi1; Tian2 (Serenity DVD)

Chi Ku So; Chi Ku So [Not Chinese]

Japanese characters: チクソ　チクソ
Back-translation of Japanese: [decorative gibberish (see note below)]
Context: Serenity (movie), Visible Chinese, on door in dining room near Zoe as Mal and Simon argue after River gets triggered

Japanese characters used as decorative gibberish

chi ku so; chi ku so

[see note below]

Note:

Japanese substitution code: The Firefly press kit used English and a cipher of Japanese phonetic characters for the English letters as decorative gibberish (Japanese code details), but チクソ　チクソ would just be A H C A H C.

Se Ri Ra; Se Ri Ra [Not Chinese]

Japanese characters: セリラ　セリラ
Back-translation of Japanese: [decorative gibberish (see Note 1 below)]
Context: Serenity (movie), Visible Chinese, on door in dining room near Mal as he and Simon argue after River gets triggered, and later visible as Jayne goes to the storage locker containing River

Japanese characters used as decorative gibberish

se ri ra; se ri ra

[see Note 1 below]

Notes:

Japanese substitution code: The Firefly press kit used English and a cipher of Japanese phonetic characters for the English letters as decorative gibberish (Japanese code details), but セリラ　セリラ would just be P L O P L O (all in the upper-right corner of the letters on the keyboard).
Despite the similarity, セリラ (se ri ra) is not the Japanese transliteration of the English word cellar (which is セラー seraa) nor of cellular (セルラー seruraa).

Dong1 Si1 Cheng2 Diu1; Diu1 Liang3 Zhong1 Feng1; Feng1 Chuan4 Lin2; Lin2 Zhu3 Wan2 Dan1; Xia4 Qi2 Bu4 Yu3; Yu3 Gai4 Chou3 Zhuan1; Qie3 Pi1 Shi4 Qiu1; Bing3 Ye4 Cong2; Ding1 Qi1 Wan4 Zhang4; Wan4 Zhang4 San1 Shang4; Diu1 Liang3 Zhong1 Feng1; Dong1 Si1 Zhong1 Feng1 [Not meaningful Chinese]

Simplified characters: 东丝丞丢、丢两中丰、丰串临、临丶丸丹、下丌不与、与丐丑专、且丕世丘、丙业丛、丁七万丈、万丈三上、丢两中丰、东丝中丰
Traditional characters: 東絲丞丟、丟兩中豐、豐串臨、臨丶丸丹、下丌不與、與丐丑專、且丕世丘、丙業從、丁七萬丈、萬丈三上、丟兩中豐、東絲中豐
Decryption of Chinese cipher: [substitution code (Chinese code details): v w x y; y z a b; b c d; d e f g; h i j k; k l m n o p q r; s t u; b c d e; d e f g; y z a b; v w a b]
Context: Serenity (movie), Visible Chinese, on Cortex buttons, visible when Inara sends a wave (left to right, then down)

Chinese Code 1 ↓

dong1 si1 cheng2 diu1

[substitution code (Chinese code details): V W X Y]

Chinese Codes 1 and 2 ↓

diu1 liang3 zhong1 feng1

[substitution code (Chinese code details): Y[1] Z[1] A[2] B[2]]

Chinese Code 2 ↓

feng1 chuan4 lin2; lin2 zhu3 wan2 dan1

[substitution code (Chinese code details): b c d; d e f g]

Chinese Code 1 ↓

xia4 qi2 bu4 yu3; yu3 gai4 chou3 zhuan1; qie3 pi1 shi4 qiu1; bing3 ye4 cong2; ding1 qi1 wan4 zhang4; wan4 zhang4 san1 shang4

[substitution code (Chinese code details): h i j k; k l m n; o p q r; s t u; b c d e; d e f g]

Chinese Codes 1 and 2 ↓

diu1 liang3 zhong1 feng1

[substitution code (Chinese code details): (Y[1] Z[1] A[2] B[2] again)]

dong1 si1 zhong1 feng1

[substitution code (Chinese code details): (V[1] W[1] again; A[2] B[2] again)]

Wan2nao4

Simplified characters: 玩闹 / Traditional characters: 玩鬧
Back-translation of Mandarin: Troublemaker
Context (1): Serenity (movie), Visible Chinese, on Jayne’s yellow T-shirt (Jayne T-shirt list) with picture of pistol, visible during Battle of Serenity argument
Context (2): Serenity (movie), Visible Chinese, on same shirt in photo on BlackFilm.com
Context (3): Serenity (movie), Visible Chinese, on same shirt in the second American trailer

wan2nao4

[colloquial] a troublemaker, a rascal, to run wild [see note below]

wan2: to play, to have fun
nao4: to make noise, to stir up trouble

Note:

Usual form: wanr2nao4 玩儿闹 (traditional: 玩兒鬧 ): [colloquial] a troublemaker, a rascal, to run wild; wanr2: to play, to toy with (wan2: to play, to have fun; -r: [non-syllabic colloquial suffix] [preceding N is silent: wanr2nao4 means wan2nao4 has become “war2nao4”]); nao4: to make noise, to stir up trouble

See also:

Wan2nao4 (“Jaynestown,” “The Message”)

Gai4; Pie3 [Not meaningful Chinese]

Simplified/Traditional characters: 丐丿
Decryption of Chinese cipher: [substitution code (Chinese code details): L L]
Context: Serenity (movie), Visible Chinese, vertically on storage locker’s door jamb, visible as Jayne goes to get River

Chinese Codes 1 and 2

gai4 pie3

[substitution code (Chinese code details): L[1] L[2] (perhaps abbreviation for “locker”)]

Zhu3 Wei2 Zhong1 Zha4 Zhang4 Me5 Zhong1 Pang1 Feng1 Zhong1 Chuan4 Ju3; Zhong1 Feng1 [Not meaningful Chinese]

Simplified characters: 主为中乍丈么中乓丰中串举中丰 / Traditional characters: 主為中乍丈麼中乓豐中串舉中豐
Decryption of Chinese cipher: [substitution code (Chinese code details): I Hate Payback A B (see note below)]
Context: Serenity (movie), Visible Chinese, on Cortex screen as River searches for Miranda on star map

Chinese Codes 1 and 2 ↓

zhu3 wei2 zhong1 zha4 zhang4 me5 zhong1 pang1 feng1 zhong1 chuan4 ju3

[substitution code (Chinese code details): [only E in code 1] I hate payback (see note below)]

Chinese Code 2 ↓

zhong1 feng1

[substitution code (Chinese code details): A B (see note below)]

Note:

Payback: Perhaps coincidently, there was a character named Payback in the 1987 American movie Full Metal Jacket, which included Jayne-portrayer Adam Baldwin (A.B.) as the character Animal Mother. Even so, the code for A B here is probably just the first two letters of the alphabet used to lengthen the line.

See also:

Zhu3 Wei2 Zhong1 Zha4 Zhang4 Me5 Zhong1 Pang1 Feng1 Zhong1 Chuan4 Ju3; Zhong1 Feng1 (Serenity: The Official Visual Companion)

Qiu1 Zhang4 Bing3 Zhong1 Nai3 Chuan4 Wei2 Zhi1 Me5 Wu1 Zha4 Jiu3 [Not meaningful Chinese]

Simplified characters: 丘丈丙中乃串为之么乌乍久 / Traditional characters: 丘丈丙中乃串為之麼烏乍久
Decryption of Chinese cipher: [substitution code (Chinese code details): Resamch Rpstn (sic)]
Translated/encrypted from the English: Research+Rescue
Context: Serenity (movie), Visible Chinese, on interior of crashed C57D ship [see note below] on Miranda

Chinese Codes 1 and 2 ↓

qiu1 zhang4 bing3 zhong1 nai3 chuan4 wei2

[substitution code (Chinese code details): [RES in code 1] resamch (sic)]

Chinese Code 2 ↓

zhi1 me5 wu1 zha4 jiu3

[substitution code (Chinese code details): rpstn (sic)]

Note:

C57D: C57-D was the designation of the United Planets Cruiser spaceship in the 1956 film Forbidden Planet, which contains elements of William Shakespeare’s play The Tempest (man and daughter stranded on an island or planet, dangerous primal-emotion monster). The Tempest also has a character named Miranda (another character: Ariel, like the planet in the Firefly episode of that name).

In both Forbidden Planet and Serenity, technology that was for the betterment of the people (a machine that manifests thoughts and the Pax drug that reduces aggression, respectively) also unleashes violent primal emotions and the whole civilization is destroyed.

Serenity (movie) graphic designer Geoffrey Mandel claimed responsibility for the use of C57D:

The biggest in-joke is the serial number of the Alliance research & rescue vessel on Miranda: C-57D, which happens to be the serial number of the Earth cruiser in Forbidden Planet.

(Geoffrey Mandel, “Interview with Geoffrey Mandel, graphic designer for Serenity.” By C.A. Bridges. Cabridges.com: The writing and photography of C.A. Bridges, February 10, 2006, http://cabridges.com/2006/02/10/interview-with-geoffrey-mandel-graphic-designer-for-serenity/)

Si3

Simplified/Traditional characters: 死
Back-translation of Mandarin: Deadly
Context: Serenity (movie), Visible Chinese, on Jayne’s rust-colored shirt with fish skeleton, visible during Mal’s speech

si3

to die, deadly [+NOUN]

See also:

Si3 (Serenity Cast-and-Crew Stuff)

Jing3gao4: Zha4yao4 Dan4tou2

Simplified characters: 警告：炸药弹头 / Traditional characters: 警告：炸藥彈頭
Back-translation of Mandarin: Warning: Explosives Bullets
Context: Serenity (movie), Visible Chinese, on metal box, partially visible to right of Zoe’s head when Mal returns from broadwaving

jing3gao4

a warning

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

zha4yao4

dynamite [noun], an explosive

zha4: to explode
yao4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: [certain chemicals]

dan4tou2

a bullet

dan4: a bullet
tou2: a head

See also:

Jing3gao4 (“Ariel”)
Jing3bao4; Dai4bu3zheng4; Tong2meng2 (“Objects in Space”)

Xi3

Simplified/Traditional characters: 囍
Back-translation of Mandarin: double happiness
Context: Serenity (movie), Visible Chinese, on Kaylee’s necklace, visible at funeral

xi3

[ 囍 is special doubled form of 喜 xi3 [used only in compound words]: happiness, joy] double happiness (especially for weddings/marriage), marital bliss

See also:

Xi3; Shou4 (“Serenity, Part 1,” “Our Mrs. Reynolds”)