“Shindig”

Wei4! [#1]

• Simplified/Traditional characters: 喂！
• Back-translation of Mandarin: Hey!
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): Way!
• Translated from script English: Hey!
• Context: “Shindig,” Wright (the slaver), reaction to pool-ball failure

wei4

Hey!

Wei4! [#2]

• Simplified/Traditional characters: 喂！
• Back-translation of Mandarin: Hey!
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): Way!
• Translated from script English: Hey!
• Context: “Shindig,” Wright (the slaver), reaction to Mal’s pickpocketing of him

wei4

Hey!

bao3bei4

• Simplified characters: 宝贝 / Traditional characters: 寶貝
• Back-translation of Mandarin: darling
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): bao bay.
• Translated from script English: sweetheart.
• Context: “Shindig,” Atherton, addressing Inara on Cortex

bao3bei4

darling, sweetheart

1. bao3 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: treasured, precious
2. bei4 [used only in compound words (or as a family name)]: a cowrie (sea-snail shell once used as money)

wen2guo5 pi4

• Simplified characters: 闻过屁 / Traditional characters: 聞過屁
• Back-translation of Mandarin: smelled a fart
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): wun gwo pee
• Translated from script English: smelled a fart
• Context: “Shindig,” Badger, referring to what Sir Warrick acts like he’s never done

wen2guo5 pi4

smelled a fart

1. wen2guo5: smelled
   1. wen2: to smell (something)
   2. guo5: [completed-action marker]
2. pi4: a fart

pi4gu5

• Simplified/Traditional characters: 屁股
• Back-translation of Mandarin: butt (of the body)
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): pee-goo
• Translated from script English: bottom
• Context: “Shindig,” Badger, referring to the presence of sticks up Mal’s and Sir Harrow’s

pi4gu5

a butt (of the body), a backside (of the body)

1. pi4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: [colloquial] a butt (of the body), a backside (of the body)
2. gu3 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: a thigh

Lao3peng2you5, ni3 kan4 qi5lai5 hen3 you3 jing1shen5.

• Simplified characters: 老朋友，你看起来很有精神。 / Traditional characters: 老朋友，你看起來很有精神。
• Back-translation of Mandarin: Old friend, you look full of vitality.
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): Lao pung yo, nee can chi lai hun yo jing shen.
• Translated from script English: You're looking wonderful, old friend.
• Context: “Shindig,” Inara, to elderly man at ball

lao3peng2you5

an old friend

1. lao3: to be old
2. peng2you5: a friend
   1. peng2 [used only in compound words]: a friend
   2. you3 [used only in compound words]: a friend

ni3

you (singular)

kan4 qi5lai5

it looks as if, it seems

1. kan4: to look at, to see
2. qi3lai5: [verb/adjective complement for an action that began and continues]
   1. qi3: to begin
   2. lai2: to do

hen3 you3 jing1shen5

to be full of vitality

1. hen3: very much
2. you3: to have, there is
3. jing1shen5: vigor, vitality
   1. jing1 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: energy, spirit
   2. shen2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: energy, vitality

gou3shi3 [#1]

• Simplified/Traditional characters: 狗屎
• Back-translation of Mandarin: crap (worthless thing)
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): gos se [Taiwan Mandarin pronunciation (FAQ: Variety of Chinese)]
• Translated from script English: crap
• Context: “Shindig,” Atherton, referring to Serenity

gou3shi3

[insult] [offensive] crap (a worthless thing); [literally: [offensive] dog dung]

1. gou3: a dog
2. shi3: excrement, dung

gou3shi3 [#2]

• Simplified/Traditional characters: 狗屎
• Back-translation of Mandarin: crap (worthless thing)
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): gos se [Taiwan Mandarin pronunciation (FAQ: Variety of Chinese)]
• Translated from script English: crap
• Context: “Shindig,” Atherton, repeating due to surprise at Inara’s criticism of his language

gou3shi3

[insult] [offensive] crap (a worthless thing); [literally: [offensive] dog dung]

1. gou3: a dog
2. shi3: excrement, dung

gou3shi3 [#3]

• Simplified/Traditional characters: 狗屎
• Back-translation of Mandarin: crap (worthless thing)
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): gos se [Taiwan Mandarin pronunciation (FAQ: Variety of Chinese)]
• Translated from script English: crap
• Context: “Shindig,” Atherton, affirming the validity of his description of Serenity

gou3shi3

[insult] [offensive] crap (a worthless thing); [literally: [offensive] dog dung]

1. gou3: a dog
2. shi3: excrement, dung

gou3shi3 [#4]

• Simplified/Traditional characters: 狗屎
• Back-translation of Mandarin: dog dung [see Note 1 below]
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): gos se [Taiwan Mandarin pronunciation (FAQ: Variety of Chinese)]
• Translated from script English: crap [see Note 1 below]
• Context: “Shindig,” Inara, upon seeing Mal at the ball

gou3shi3

[offensive] dog dung

1. gou3: a dog
2. shi3: excrement, dung

Xie4xie5

• Simplified characters: 谢谢 / Traditional characters: 謝謝
• Back-translation of Mandarin: Thank you
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): Sheh-sheh
• Translated from script English: Thank you
• Context: “Shindig,” Kaylee, to Mal for permission to visit the buffet table

xie4xie5

thank you, thanks [expression]

1. xie4: [repeated with neutral 5th tone] to thank

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: What?
• Context: “Shindig,” Kaylee, response to Banning Miller’s comment at the ball

shen2me5

[usually pronounced “she2me5”]: what?

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

Cai2 bu4 shi4.

• Simplified characters: 才不是。 / Traditional characters: 纔不是。
• Back-translation of Mandarin: No way.
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): Tsai boo shr.
• Translated from script English: No way.
• Context: “Shindig,” Kaylee, refuting the 80-04’s quality

cai2 bu4 shi4

actually no, No way (for disagreement)

1. cai2: actually (for certainty or refuting)
2. bu4 shi4: to not be, [set phrase] No!
   1. bu4 [pronounced “bu2” before a 4th-tone syllable]: not
   2. shi4: to be

yu2ben4 de5

• Simplified/Traditional characters: 愚笨的
• Back-translation of Mandarin: stupid
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): yu bun duh
• Translated from script English: stupid
• Context: “Shindig,” Mal, referring to duel

yu2ben4 de5

to be stupid, to be foolish

1. yu2 [used only in compound words]: stupid, foolish
2. ben4: to be stupid
3. de5: [noun-modifier marker] [here: integrated adjectival clause (restrictive relative clause)]

Ti1 wo3 de5 pi4gu5.

• Simplified/Traditional characters: 踢我的屁股。
• Back-translation of Mandarin: Kick my butt.
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): Tee wuh duh pee-goo.
• Translated from script English: Kick me in the bottom.
• Context: “Shindig” [Cut], Mal, after he upsets Kaylee about dress

ti1

to kick

wo3 de5 pi4gu5

my butt (of the body)

1. wo3 de5: my
   1. wo3: I
   2. de5: [noun-modifier marker] [here: possessive (genitive), ’s, of]
2. pi4gu5: a butt (of the body), a backside (of the body)
   1. pi4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: [colloquial] a butt (of the body), a backside (of the body)
   2. gu3 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: a thigh

Wa1!

• Simplified/Traditional characters: 哇！
• Back-translation of Mandarin: Wow!
• Script Mandarin translation (phonetic for English speakers): Wah!
• Translated from script English: Wow!
• Context: “Shindig” [Cut], Mal, reaction to hearing about Atherton’s non-marriage proposal to Inara

wa1

[exclamation of surprise], Wah!, Wow!

Ru2guo3 tai2qiu2 huai4le5, na4me5 guan3li3 jiu4 bu4 fu4ze2 de5.

• Simplified characters: 如果台球坏了，那么管理就不负责的. / Traditional characters: 如果檯球壞了，那麼管理就不負責的.
• Back-translation of Mandarin: If a billiard ball becomes ruined, then management is definitely not responsible
• Translated from the English: Management Not Responsible for Ball Failure
• Context: “Shindig,” Visible Chinese, on bar sign in opening

ru2guo3 tai2qiu2 huai4le5

if a billiard ball becomes ruined

1. ru2guo3: if
   1. ru2: if
   2. guo3: if
2. tai2qiu2: a billiard ball
   1. tai2: a table
   2. qiu2: a ball (spherical object)
3. huai4le5: ruined, destroyed
   1. huai4: to ruin, to destroy
   2. le5: [completion marker]

na4me5 guan3li3 jiu4 bu4 fu4ze2 de5

then management is definitely not responsible

1. na4me5: then, in that case
   1. na4: then, in that case
   2. me5: [suffix for adverbs] [which is another use of na4me5 ‘in that way’]
2. guan3li3: the management
   1. guan3: to supervise
   2. li3 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: to manage
3. jiu4: [marker for emphasis]
4. bu4 [pronounced “bu2” before 4th-tone syllable but not when, as here, it also follows a 4th-tone syllable]: not
5. fu4ze2: to be responsible for
   1. fu4: to bear (responsibility)
   2. ze2 [used only in compound words]: responsibility
6. de5: [assertion marker]

Jin4lai5 Xin4xi1

• Simplified characters: 进来信息 / Traditional characters: 進來信息
• Back-translation of Mandarin: Incoming Message
• Context: “Shindig,” Visible Chinese, on Inara’s Cortex screen, somewhat visible to right of picture of first potential client as it enlarges and shrinks

jin4lai5

to come in, to enter

1. jin4: to come in, to enter
2. lai2: to come

xin4xi1

a message, news

1. xin4 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: a message
2. xi1 [used only in compound words]: news

Dong1chong2-xia4cao3

• Simplified characters: 冬虫夏草 / Traditional characters: 冬蟲夏草
• Back-translation of Mandarin: Chinese caterpillar fungus
• Context: “Shindig,” Visible Chinese, abbreviated handwritten-style characters written bottom to top on yellow vertical pennant as crew arrives on Persephone

dong1chong2-xia4cao3

[traditional Chinese medicine] Chinese caterpillar fungus [Cordyceps sinensis (see note below)]

1. dong1: the winter
2. chong2: an insect, a worm
3. xia4 [used only in compound words (or as a place/dynasty/family name)]: the summer
4. cao3: grass

You1mei3

• Simplified characters: 优美 / Traditional characters: 優美
• Back-translation of Mandarin: Elegant
• Context: “Shindig,” Visible Chinese, on window of store to right of one with green dress, somewhat visible as camera whip pans left to that other store

you1mei3

to be elegant, to be beautiful (style)

1. you1 [used only in compound words]: excellent, superior
2. mei3: to be beautiful, to be superior

Jiang3jiu5 de5 Fu2zhuang1

• Simplified characters: 讲究的服装 / Traditional characters: 講究的服裝
• Back-translation of Mandarin: Stylish Clothing
• Context: “Shindig,” Visible Chinese, written down, right, then down on window of store with green dress

jiang3jiu5 de5

to be tasteful, to be stylish

1. jiang3: to be particular about
2. jiu1 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: to study carefully
3. de5: [noun-modifier marker] [here: integrated adjectival clause (restrictive relative clause)]

fu2zhuang1

clothing, attire

1. fu2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: clothing
2. zhuang1 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: clothing

Li3fu2

• Simplified characters: 礼服 / Traditional characters: 禮服
• Back-translation of Mandarin: Formal Attire
• Context: “Shindig,” Visible Chinese, on window of store with Kaylee’s pink dress

li3fu2

formal attire, ceremonial clothing

1. li3 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: a ceremony, a rite
2. fu2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: clothing

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: “Shindig,” Visible Chinese, on Jayne’s T-shirt (Jayne T-shirt list), visible in front of the dress store as Kaylee talks

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

1. 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
2. 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

Jiu3ba1 he2 Shao1kao3dian4

• Simplified characters: 酒吧 和 烧烤店 / Traditional characters: 酒吧 和 燒烤店
• Back-translation of Mandarin: Bar & Grill
• Context: “Shindig,” Visible Chinese, written down, left, then down on window left of Kaylee and behind Zoe as Mal insults Kaylee

jiu3ba1 he2 shao1kao3dian4

a bar & grill

1. jiu3ba1: a bar (barroom)
   1. jiu3: liquor, spirits
   2. ba1: a bar (barroom) [loanword; transliteration for bar: [English]]; [literally: [onomatopoeia for “Snap!” sound]]
2. he2: and [for joining nouns not clauses]
3. shao1kao3dian4: a grill (type of restaurant)
   1. shao1kao3: to grill, to barbecue
      1. shao1: to burn, to cook
      2. kao3: to roast, to grill
   2. dian4: a shop, a store

You2lan3che1

• Simplified characters: 游览车 / Traditional characters: 遊覽車
• Back-translation of Mandarin: Tour Bus
• Context: “Shindig,” Visible Chinese, on bus behind Mal as he insults Kaylee outside dress shop, visible as Zoe walks off

you2lan3che1

tour bus

1. you2lan3: sight-seeing, to tour
   1. you2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: to travel
   2. lan3 [used only in compound words]: to watch, to look at
2. che1: a vehicle

Miyamoto Goteiraku [Not Chinese]

• Japanese modern characters: 宮本五貞楽 / Japanese old-fashioned characters: 宮本五貞樂
• Back-translation of Japanese: [restaurant name] Miyamoto Five Faithful Pleasures
• Context: “Shindig,” Visible Chinese, on restaurant’s red “polka-triangle” vertical banner, visible as Badger appears for first time

Japanese

Miyamoto

[a Japanese family name / place name]

1. miya: [literally: an imperial court]
2. moto: [literally: a basis]

go tei raku

[literally: five faithful pleasures] [borrowings from Chinese (see Note 1 below)]

1. go: five
2. tei [used only in compound words]: faithful, chaste (of a woman’s sexuality)
3. raku: comfort [noun], pleasure [noun]

You3 Ying2yang3 de5 Shi2pin3

• Simplified characters: 有营养的食品 / Traditional characters: 有營養的食品
• Back-translation of Mandarin: Nutritious Food
• Context: “Shindig,” Visible Chinese, on Peach Halves cans, the first attacked by River

you3 ying2yang3 de5 shi2pin3

nutritious food

1. you3 ying2yang3 de5: nutritious, that has nutrition
   1. you3: to have, there is
   2. ying2yang3: nutrition, nourishment
      1. ying2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: to nourish
      2. yang3: nourishment, to provide for
   3. de5: [noun-modifier marker] [here: integrated adjectival clause (restrictive relative clause)]
2. shi2pin3: food, foodstuffs
   1. shi2 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: food, food-related
   2. pin3 [for this meaning, used only in compound words]: a product, a commodity

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: “Shindig,” Visible Chinese, seen upside-down or sideways on boxes of cracker packets that River attacks

Qing1ri4

Blue Sun [name of a fictional corporation]

1. qing1: to be green (the color), to be blue (the color)
2. ri4 [used only in compound words]: [traditional] or [meaning borrowed from non-Mandarin Chinese] the sun

Wei1 Dian4, Fen1

• Simplified characters: 危   电、氛 / Traditional characters: 危   電、氛
• Back-translation of Mandarin: Danger Electricity, Vapor
• Context: “Shindig,” Visible Chinese, on white duct outside Serenity’s cargo bay, visible when River enters

wei1

[for this meaning, Chinese character doesn’t represent an independent word in Modern Standard Mandarin (Putonghua)] →
wei1xian3 危险 (traditional: 危險 ): danger, to be dangerous

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

dian4

electricity, to get an electric shock

fen1

[used only in compound words]: vapor