Serenity Official Site
translations

[Site formerly at serenitymovie.com]

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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Visible Chinese

[Image: logo]

Yin2; Wan2 Lin2 [Not meaningful Chinese]

Simplified characters: 银、丸临 / Traditional characters: 銀、丸臨
Back-translation of Mandarin: Silver [see Note 1 below]; [substitution code (Chinese code details): F D (see Note 2 below)]
Context: Serenity Official Site, Visible Chinese, Homepage of the Flash site, in background to left and right of images of the cast members, with faint (some upside-down) gibberish Japanese katakana characters

yin2

silver (the metal) [see Note 1 below]

Chinese Code 2 ↓

wan2 lin2

[substitution code (Chinese code details): F D (see Note 2 below)]

Notes:

Yin2: The yin2 is probably decorative gibberish clipped from the Alliance paper money’s yin2hang2 银行 (traditional: 銀行 ): a bank (financial institution); yin2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: money-related; [literally: silver]; hang2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: a business, a firm.
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 [movie], Serenity: The Official Visual Companion)
Yin2; Bing3; Wan2 Lin2 (Serenity Official Site)

Mao3 Chen2 Si4 Wu3 Wei4

Simplified/Traditional characters: 卯辰巳午未
Back-translation of Mandarin: [Earthly Branches (see note below)]
Context: Serenity Official Site, Visible Chinese, Homepage of the Flash site, on brown object at bottom center with volume control and Menu activator; incorrectly written mirror-image

Used as decorative gibberish

mao3 chen2 si4 wu3 wei4

[Earthly Branches (see note below)]

mao3: [literally: fourth of the Twelve Earthly Branches]
chen2: [literally: fifth of the Twelve Earthly Branches]
si4: [literally: sixth of the Twelve Earthly Branches]
wu3: [literally: seventh of the Twelve Earthly Branches]
wei4: [literally: eighth of the Twelve Earthly Branches]

Note:

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

Bing3 Qi2 [Not meaningful Chinese]

Simplified/Traditional characters: 丙丌
Decryption of Chinese cipher: [substitution code (Chinese code details): S I]
Context: Serenity Official Site, Visible Chinese, Homepage of the Flash site, on brown object at bottom center with volume control and Menu activator; incorrectly written mirror-image

Chinese Code 2

bing3 qi2

[substitution code (Chinese code details): S I]

Jin4ru4

Simplified characters: 进入 / Traditional characters: 進入
Back-translation of Mandarin: Enter
Translated from the English: Enter
Context: Serenity Official Site, Visible Chinese, on Enter Flash Site link

jin4ru4

to enter, to make way into

jin4: to come in, to enter
ru4 [used only in compound words]: to come in, to enter

Yin2; Bing3; Wan2 Lin2 [Not meaningful Chinese]

Simplified characters: 银、饼、丸临 / Traditional characters: 銀、餅、丸臨
Back-translation of Mandarin: Silver [see Note 1 below]; Pancake; [substitution code (Chinese code details): F D (see Note 2 below)]
Context: Serenity Official Site, Visible Chinese, Downloads page of the non-Flash site, on a wallpaper, with faint (some upside-down) gibberish Japanese katakana characters

yin2

silver (the metal) [see Note 1 below]

bing3

a pancake, a round and flat cake/pastry, [for this meaning, used only in compound words] a round and flat object [see Note 1 below]

Chinese Code 2 ↓

wan2 lin2

[substitution code (Chinese code details): F D (see Note 2 below)]

Notes:

Yin2: The yin2 is probably decorative gibberish clipped from the Alliance paper money’s yin2hang2 银行 (traditional: 銀行 ): a bank (financial institution); yin2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: money-related; [literally: silver]; hang2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: a business, a firm.

The yin2 and bing3 were far apart on the page, but perhaps they were pulled apart from one of these words:
- bing3yin2 饼银 (traditional: 餅銀 ): [rare] a silver dollar; bing3: a round and flat object; yin2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: money-related; [literally: silver].
- yin2bingr3 银饼儿 (traditional: 銀餅兒 ): [rare] a silver coin, a silver dollar; yin2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: money-related; [literally: silver]; bing3: a round and flat object; -r: [non-syllabic colloquial suffix] [preceding NG is silent: yin2bingr3 means yin2bing3 has become “yin2bir3”].
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 [movie], Serenity: The Official Visual Companion)
Yin2; Wan2 Lin2 (Serenity Official Site)

Zai4 Ju4yuan4 Jiu3yue4 San1shi2ri4

Simplified characters: 在剧院九月三十日 / Traditional characters: 在劇院九月三十日
Back-translation of Mandarin: In Theaters September 30th
Translated from the English: In Theaters September 30th
Context (1): Serenity Official Site, Visible Chinese, Downloads page of the non-Flash site, on wallpapers
Context (2): Serenity Official Site, Visible Chinese, Menu of the Flash site, in “Story” and “Downloads” sections

zai4 ju4yuan4

in theaters

zai4: in/at, to be in/at
ju4yuan4: a theater
1. ju4: a theatrical play, drama
2. yuan4 [used only in compound words]: a public building

Jiu3yue4 San1shi2ri4

September 30th

Jiu3yue4: September
1. jiu3: nine
2. yue4: a month
San1shi2ri4: 30th (the day of the month)
1. san1shi2: thirty
  1. san1: three
  2. shi2: ten
2. ri4 [used only in compound words]: a day

Note:

Terms that are more specific:
- dian4ying3yuan4 电影院 (traditional: 電影院 ): a movie theater, a cinema; dian4ying3: a movie/film (dian4: electricity; ying3 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: an image, a movie/film); yuan4 [used only in compound words]: a public building
- ying3yuan4 影院 (traditional: 影院 ): a movie theater, a cinema; ying3 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: an image, a movie/film; yuan4 [used only in compound words]: a public building

See also:

Zai4 Ju4yuan4 Jiu3yue4 San1shi2ri4 (Serenity DVD Official Site)

Ping2an1

Simplified/Traditional characters: 平安
Back-translation of Mandarin: Safe and Sound
Translated from the English: Serenity
Context (1): Serenity Official Site, Visible Chinese, Downloads page of the non-Flash site, on wallpapers, and Menu of the Flash site, in “Downloads” section
Context (2): Serenity Official Site, Visible Chinese, Menu of the Flash site, in “Story” and “Notes” sections
Context (3): Serenity Official Site, Visible Chinese, “Explore Serenity” Engine Room/Kaylee section of the Flash site, in background in “The Ship” section

ping2an1

to be well, to be safe and sound

ping2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: calm, peaceful
an1: to be in good health, to be safe (in one’s life)

See also:

An1ning2 (Serenity: The Official Visual Companion)
Jing3wei4; Ping2jing4 (Firefly Props and Merchandise)
Ping2 (“Jaynestown”)
Ping2an1 (Serenity DVD Official Site)
Ping2an1 You2xi4 (Serenity Official Site)
Ping2jing4 (“Serenity, Part 1,” “The Train Job,” “Safe,” “The Message,” Firefly Press Kit)

Gu4shi5

Simplified/Traditional characters: 故事
Translated from the English: Story
Context: Serenity Official Site, Visible Chinese, Menu of the Flash site, in “Story” and “DVD Bonus Features” sections

gu4shi5

a story, a tale

gu4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: old, ancient
shi4: an event, a happening

Sheng1chan3 Deng1ji4

Simplified characters: 生产登记 / Traditional characters: 生產登記
Translated from the English: Notes
Context: Serenity Official Site, Visible Chinese, Menu of the Flash site, in “Notes” section

sheng1chan3

production (of goods), to manufacture

sheng1: to produce
chan3: production, to produce

deng1ji4

to register

deng1: to register, to record
ji4: to record

Tu2xiang4 he2 Zhao4pian4

Simplified characters: 图象和照片 / Traditional characters: 圖像和照片
Translated from the English: Images
Context: Serenity Official Site, Visible Chinese, Menu of the Flash site, in “Images” section

tu2xiang4

an image, a picture

tu2: a picture, a drawing
xiang4: a picture, a portrait

he2

and [for joining nouns not clauses]

zhao4pian4

a picture, a photograph

zhao4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: a picture, a photograph
pian4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: a photograph

Xia4zai4

Simplified characters: 下载 / Traditional characters: 下載
Translated from the English: Downloads
Context: Serenity Official Site, Visible Chinese, Menu of the Flash site, in “Downloads” section

xia4zai4

to download

xia4: down, downward
zai4: to transport

Yan3yuan2 he2 Cheng2yuan2zu3

Simplified characters: 演员和乘员组 / Traditional characters: 演員和乘員組
Translated from the English: Cast and Crew
Context: Serenity Official Site, Visible Chinese, Menu of the Flash site, in “Bios” section

yan3yuan2

an actor, a performer

yan3: to act (a theatrical role), to perform (artistically)
yuan2: [suffix for members of a human group], -er/-or

he2

and [for joining nouns not clauses]

cheng2yuan2zu3

a crew

cheng2yuan2: a passenger

cheng2: to ride
yuan2: [suffix for members of a human group], -er/-or

zu3: a group, a unit

Notes:

Better term: yan3zhi2yuan2biao3 演职员表 (traditional: 演職員表 ): (a list of) cast and crew; yan3: [abbreviation] → yan3yuan2 演员 (traditional: 演員 ): an actor, a performer [see main entry above]; zhi2yuan2: a staff member, a staff (zhi2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: a position (at work); yuan2: [suffix for members of a human group], -er/-or); biao3: a list, a chart
Also: yan3yuan2biao3 演员表 (traditional: 演員表 ): a cast (of actors or other performers); yan3yuan2: an actor, a performer [see main entry above]; biao3: a list, a chart

Lu4ying3

Simplified characters: 录影 / Traditional characters: 錄影
Translated from the English: Video
Context: Serenity Official Site, Visible Chinese, Menu of the Flash site, in “Video” section

lu4ying3

to videotape

lu4 [used only in compound words]: to record, to tape-record
ying3 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: an image, a movie/film

Note:

Better term: ying3pian4 影片 : a movie/film, a video; ying3 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: an image, a movie/film; pian4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: a photograph

Zhuan4ji4

Simplified characters: 传记 / Traditional characters: 傳記
Translated from the English: [(Not on site) Biographies]
Context: Serenity Official Site, Visible Chinese, “Explore Serenity” ship area/character sections of the Flash site, on object

zhuan4ji4

a biography

zhuan4: a biography
ji4: to record

You2xi4

Simplified characters: 游戏 / Traditional characters: 遊戲
Translated from the English: [(Not on site) Game]
Context: Serenity Official Site, Visible Chinese, “Explore Serenity” ship area/character sections of the Flash site, on objects

you2xi4

a game

you2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: to play
xi4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: amusement

See also:

Nei4cun2 You2xi4 (Serenity Official Site)
Ping2an1 You2xi4 (Serenity Official Site)
Tou2zhi4 de5 Ma3zhang3 You2xi4 (Serenity Official Site)
Zong1se4 Wai4tao4 You2xi4 (Serenity Official Site)

Zong1se4 Wai4tao4 You2xi4

Simplified characters: 棕色外套游戏 / Traditional characters: 棕色外套遊戲
Translated from the English: [(Not on site) Browncoat Game]
Context (1): Serenity Official Site, Visible Chinese, “Explore Serenity” Cargo Bay/Zoe section of the Flash site, in “Browncoat Quiz”
Context (2): Serenity Official Site, Visible Chinese, “Explore Serenity” Crew Quarters/Jayne section of the Flash site, in “Weapons Explorer”
Context (3): Serenity Official Site, Visible Chinese, “Explore Serenity” Infirmary/Simon & River section of the Flash site, in “Science Explorer”

Zong1se4 Wai4tao4

Browncoat [name for a fictional anti-unification fighter], [name for a real-world fan of Firefly/Serenity]

zong1se4: brown [noun]
1. zong1 [used only in compound words]: brown
2. se4 [used only in compound words]: color [noun]
wai4tao4: overcoat, jacket
1. wai4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: outer
2. tao4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: a cover

you2xi4

a game

you2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: to play
xi4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: amusement

See also:

Nei4cun2 You2xi4 (Serenity Official Site)
Ping2an1 You2xi4 (Serenity Official Site)
Tou2zhi4 de5 Ma3zhang3 You2xi4 (Serenity Official Site)
You2xi4 (Serenity Official Site)

Tou2zhi4 de5 Ma3zhang3 You2xi4

Simplified characters: 投掷的马掌游戏 / Traditional characters: 投擲的馬掌遊戲
Translated from the English: Horseshoe Game
Context: Serenity Official Site, Visible Chinese, “Explore Serenity” Airlock/Mal section of the Flash site, in “Horseshoe Game”

tou2zhi4 de5 ma3zhang3 [de]

throwing-horseshoes; [literally: that throws horseshoes]

tou2zhi4 de5: that are thrown
1. tou2zhi4: to throw, to hurl
  1. tou2: to throw, to fling
  2. zhi4: to throw, to hurl
2. de5: [noun-modifier marker] [here: integrated adjectival clause (restrictive relative clause)]
ma3zhang3: a horseshoe
1. ma3: a horse
2. zhang3 [used only in compound words]: a horseshoe
[understood: de5 的 : [noun-modifier marker] [here: integrated adjectival clause (restrictive relative clause)]]

you2xi4

a game

you2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: to play
xi4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: amusement

Note:

Terms that are more common:
- zhi4ma3ti2tie3 掷马蹄铁 (traditional: 擲馬蹄鐵 ): horseshoes (game), pitching horseshoes; zhi4ma3ti2tie3: to throw horseshoes, to pitch horseshoes (zhi4: to throw, to hurl; ma3ti2tie3: a horseshoe [ma3ti2: a horse’s hoof, a horseshoe —ma3: a horse; ti2 [used only in compound words]: a hoof—; tie3: iron [metal]])
- zhi4ma3ti2tie3 you2xi4 掷马蹄铁游戏 (traditional: 擲馬蹄鐵遊戲 ): horseshoes (game), pitching horseshoes; zhi4ma3ti2tie3: to throw horseshoes, to pitch horseshoes [see above]; you2xi4: a game [see main entry above]

See also:

Nei4cun2 You2xi4 (Serenity Official Site)
Ping2an1 You2xi4 (Serenity Official Site)
You2xi4 (Serenity Official Site)
Zong1se4 Wai4tao4 You2xi4 (Serenity Official Site)

Te4shu1 Xing4neng2

Simplified/Traditional characters: 特殊性能
Translated from the English: [(Not on site) Special Functions]
Context: Serenity Official Site, Visible Chinese, “Explore Serenity” Cockpit/Wash section of the Flash site, in “Wallpaper Creator” section

te4shu1

to be special, to be particular (to something)

te4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: special, exceptional
shu1 [used only in compound words]: special, different

xing4neng2

function (of a machine), capabilities

xing4 [used only in compound words]: a property (of something)
neng2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: an ability, a capability

Note:

Also:
- te4shu1xing4 特殊性 : a distinguishing characteristic
- te4shu1xing4 de5: special [+NOUN]; de5 的 : [noun-modifier marker] [here: possessive (genitive), ’s, of]

Cai4pu3

Simplified characters: 菜谱 / Traditional characters: 菜譜
Translated from the English: Cookbook
Context: Serenity Official Site, Visible Chinese, “Explore Serenity” Dining Room/Book section of the Flash site, in “Cookbook” section and in the downloadable Cookbook

cai4pu3

a cookbook

cai4: a menu item, a dish (a noodle dish, Peking duck, etc.)
pu3: a manual, a book

Zhi1dao5 Nin2 de5 Di2ren2

Simplified characters: 知道您的敌人 / Traditional characters: 知道您的敵人
Translated from the English: Know Your Enemy
Context: Serenity Official Site, Visible Chinese, “Explore Serenity” Shuttle/Inara section of the Flash site, in “Know Your Enemy”

zhi1dao5

to know, to be aware of

zhi1: to know
dao4: a way

nin2 de5

[polite] your (singular)

nin2: [polite] you (singular)
de5: [noun-modifier marker] [here: possessive (genitive), ’s, of]

di2ren2

an enemy (person or group)

di2 [used only in compound words]: an enemy, a foe
ren2: a person

Nei4cun2 You2xi4

Simplified characters: 内存游戏 / Traditional characters: 内存遊戲
Translated from the English: [(Not on site) Memory Game]
Context: Serenity Official Site, Visible Chinese, “Explore Serenity” Shuttle/Inara section of the Flash site, in “Know Your Enemy”

nei4cun2

[computers] internal storage, RAM (random-access memory)

nei4: internal, inside
cun2: to store, to preserve

you2xi4

a game

you2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: to play
xi4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: amusement

See also:

Ping2an1 You2xi4 (Serenity Official Site)
Tou2zhi4 de5 Ma3zhang3 You2xi4 (Serenity Official Site)
You2xi4 (Serenity Official Site)
Zong1se4 Wai4tao4 You2xi4 (Serenity Official Site)

Ping2an1 You2xi4

Simplified characters: 平安游戏 / Traditional characters: 平安遊戲
Translated from the English: [(Not on site) Serenity Game]
Context: Serenity Official Site, Visible Chinese, “Explore Serenity” Shuttle/Inara section of the Flash site, on cards in “Know Your Enemy”

ping2an1

to be well, to be safe and sound

ping2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: calm, peaceful
an1: to be in good health, to be safe (in one’s life)

you2xi4

a game

you2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: to play
xi4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: amusement

See also:

An1ning2 (Serenity: The Official Visual Companion)
Jing3wei4; Ping2jing4 (Firefly Props and Merchandise)
Nei4cun2 You2xi4 (Serenity Official Site)
Ping2 (“Jaynestown”)
Ping2an1 (Serenity Official Site)
Ping2jing4 (“Serenity, Part 1,” “The Train Job,” “Safe,” “The Message,” Firefly Press Kit)
Tou2zhi4 de5 Ma3zhang3 You2xi4 (Serenity Official Site)
You2xi4 (Serenity Official Site)
Zong1se4 Wai4tao4 You2xi4 (Serenity Official Site)

Serenity Official Sitetranslations

Visible Chinese

Yin2; Wan2 Lin2 [Not meaningful Chinese]

yin2

wan2 lin2

Mao3 Chen2 Si4 Wu3 Wei4

mao3 chen2 si4 wu3 wei4

Bing3 Qi2 [Not meaningful Chinese]

bing3 qi2

Jin4ru4

jin4ru4

Yin2; Bing3; Wan2 Lin2 [Not meaningful Chinese]

yin2

bing3

wan2 lin2

Zai4 Ju4yuan4 Jiu3yue4 San1shi2ri4

zai4 ju4yuan4

Jiu3yue4 San1shi2ri4

Ping2an1

ping2an1

Gu4shi5

gu4shi5

Sheng1chan3 Deng1ji4

sheng1chan3

deng1ji4

Tu2xiang4 he2 Zhao4pian4

tu2xiang4

he2

zhao4pian4

Xia4zai4

xia4zai4

Yan3yuan2 he2 Cheng2yuan2zu3

yan3yuan2

he2

cheng2yuan2zu3

Lu4ying3

lu4ying3

Zhuan4ji4

zhuan4ji4

You2xi4

you2xi4

Zong1se4 Wai4tao4 You2xi4

Zong1se4 Wai4tao4

you2xi4

Tou2zhi4 de5 Ma3zhang3 You2xi4

tou2zhi4 de5 ma3zhang3 [de]

you2xi4

Te4shu1 Xing4neng2

te4shu1

xing4neng2

Cai4pu3

cai4pu3

Zhi1dao5 Nin2 de5 Di2ren2

zhi1dao5

nin2 de5

di2ren2

Nei4cun2 You2xi4

nei4cun2

you2xi4

Ping2an1 You2xi4

ping2an1

you2xi4

Serenity Official Site
translations