Chinese for the RP Player
POSTED BY: Channain
UPDATED: Friday, May 27, 2005 17:34
VIEWED: 12900
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Listed below is a glossary of language used in Firefly episodes and fan fiction for use by RP players. If anyone has an addition or correction to this list, please feel free to enlighten me.
PLUS - there are other listings below of Chinese resource Web sites and some discussions on use and application of the Chinese language. If you know of any other sources, again, feel free to post them here.
Last Update: 2 February 2005
TITLES and GENDER references
bà bà = daddy (familiar)
fùqin = father (formal)
ge ge =
xíao dì = little brother (familiar); used with a blood relation
xiâo dì dì = little brother (familiar); can be used with someone not related to you
mà mà = mommy (familiar)
jèijei = big sister (Thanks Dawn)
mèimei = little sister
xiâo mèi = baby sister; used with a blood relation
mu qin = mother (formal)
dà ge =
xiâo péngyou = little friend (familiar), kid, children
xiâo mèimei = baby sister; can be used with someone not related to you
nan hai = boy
COMPLIMENTARY
ài rén = sweetheart
xin gan = sweetheart, darling
bâobèi = precious (item); ie: precious jewels (endearment)
kê ài cute/adorable/lovely
lìngrén jingyì = stunning, amazing
mêilì = beautiful/pretty
qin ài de = dear, darling
shuài = handsome/snazzy
GENERAL
bì zuî = be quiet/shut up
bù kê néng = (exclamation) no way!
da huai = big bad
duìbùqî = I'm sorry/excuse me
dong ma? = understand?
fèi huà = garbage (nonsense)
Fei fei pian: Fat lie
gan bei =
gaxìng jìandào nî =
hâo ba = okay (reluctant)
hâo de = okay/will do!
hâo le = okay (contextual "Okay, that's enough. Stop right there." can be considered rude)
hâo le ma = that's enough, okay?
hâo = okay/sure
jin kuai = as quickly as possible
jiu = move
mâshàng = on the double/quickly/right away/immediately
méi guanxi = it's nothing/it's okay
laja = (n) garbage
nî bù dông ma = don't you understand?
nî bù dông = you don't understand
wen hou = greetings or hello
nî hâo mêi = you're so beautiful
nî shòu shäng le = you're hurt
ni meí shì bà? = are you okay?
jiao-zi = pan-fried dumplings
lèsè = (n) garbage
shénme? = what?
shìde = yes/right
sishengzi = bastard (not an insult)
tìan xiâo de = God knows (heaven/sky only knows)
tianna =
Nin xi huan gén wo tiào wu ma? = may I have the pleasure...(of this dance)?
wô hâo = I'm fine
wode tìan = oh sky! (colloquial: Oh God!)
xiâoxin = [be] careful
xièxie nî = thank you
xièxie = thanks
xin nian kuai le = happy new year
zài-jiàn = goodbye
zôugôu = yes man (derogatory)
zhàngfu = husband
zhè bìng bù huài = it's not that bad
zhùzuî = be quiet/shut up
INSULTS
bèn dàn = [you] idiot!
chûn = stupid
chûnrén = fool, jerk (familiar)
dòngwù = animal
húndàn =
heishôudâng liúmáng = gangster asshole/bastard(s)
lâotou = old geezer
liúmáng = bastard/asshole/criminal/gangster
lièzhì = inferior; shoddy; trashy
nuòfu = coward
pofù = bitch
wúnéug de rén = trash (despicable person)
xiao jiay pigu = skinny little ass
yúchûn = stupid/ignorant
yaoguài = monster
Swearing
cào = v/t screw, fuck
cào nî zûxian shí bâ dai = fuck 18 generations of your ancestors
chùsheng xai-jiao de xiang huo = animal fucking bastard
daì ruò mù ji = dumb as a wooden chicken
gôu pì = bullshit
gôushî bùrú = lower than dogshit/lowest of the low
gûnkai = fuck off
lan-dan jiang! = Weak-ass sauce!
lashî = shit (v)
made =
méiyôu mûqin de xiao gôu = motherless cur
qù tamade = (exclamation) fuck him/fuck that!
qù tamade = (exclamation) motherfucker
qingwa cào de liúmáng = frog-humping sumbitch
tamade = (exclamation) motherfucker
tamade húndàn = fucking b
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Thanks very much! I love learning more insults in foreign languages. And whatever else I can pick up is good too. I can insult people in at least 3 languages. Mandrin is my most frequently used one, though.
............................................................................................
"Freedom is the Freedom to say that 2+2 makes 4. If that is granted, all else follws"-Winston, 1984
Keep flyin', and remember, THEY can't take the sky from US!
Teela Brown, keeper of bad typing.
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Channain, thanks for putting these up! Yay! 
~A~
...I'm still free,
You can't take the sky from me.
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Returns
............................................................................................
"Freedom is the Freedom to say that 2+2 makes 4. If that is granted, all else follws"-Winston, 1984
Keep flyin', and remember, THEY can't take the sky from US!
Teela Brown, keeper of bad typing.
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This'll be very helpful for me too.
xièxie nî
-Hiro
"Now you can luxuriate in a nice jail cell, but if your hand touches metal, I swear by my pretty flowered bonnet, I will end you."
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How to swear in Mandarin:
http://www.insultmonger.com/swearing/mandarin.htm
RIVER
Purple elephants are flying.
MAL
Good. Thanks for the update.
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Here's a site for the Firefly Chinese that has been very useful to me:
http://fireflychinese.home.att.net/
I'm not broken, in my dream I win...
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Everybody with the swear words...
You want some serious advice, guys? Practice "zhie zhie" (xièxie) like you mean it.
I used to work at Wal-Mart, in the Seafood Dept. Kinda like working for the Alliance, only I think the grey uniforms they have look nicer. Anyhow...
It was a point of pride with me: every customer was thanked in their mother tongue. I was saying "Thank You" in over 30 languages in this little hick town before I got out of there. Mandarin was one of them.
On lunch break, I would go next door to the Chinese Buffet. I was jumped to the front of the line, I did not have to tell them where I wanted to sit, what I wanted to drink, or whether I wanted the buffet or a menu. My drink NEVER got further down than half-full. I paid lunch prices for supper.
"Xièxie". As one waiter, in very halting, oh-so-polite language, told me one day...well...
It loosely translated as "You're amazing, most of these 
round-eyes can't even say Thank you in English!"
Good advice for your RP characters (I just now remembered what forum this is in), and good advice for RL.
GMs: If the player's characters don't remember to say thank you, stiff them on the bill--they've earned it.
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I am skeptical of this particular one...
wo nén qin ni tiào wu ma...? = may I have the pleasure...(of this dance)?
nén specifically means the "capacility to" or "ability to" do something rather than requesting for permission. The English word phrase for "May I" or "Can I" here clearly carries the latter meaning.
So, taking into the real meaning. It translates into something odd; as in "Do I have the ability to ask you to dance?" Which might actually provoke a similarly non-sensical response.
Ké yi is probably a better choice. But I don't think a Chinese person would say that as it doesn't have the same sense of florish as the English phrase does...
Like Fireflyfans.net?
Haken needs a new development system. Donate.
http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=5&t=3283
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Quote:Thanks Jasonzzz - could this possibly be the product of the Chinese/American blending that's supposed to have gone on prior to the time that Firefly takes place?
Originally posted by Jasonzzz:
I am skeptical of this particular one...
wo nén qin ni tiào wu ma...? = may I have the pleasure...(of this dance)?
Ké yi is probably a better choice. But I don't think a Chinese person would say that as it doesn't have the same sense of florish as the English phrase does...
We have art so as not to die of truth ~ Neitzsche
http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=7922
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