Does zhu mean pig?

Yes, the character "Zhu" (猪) in Zhu Bajie (猪八戒) does indeed mean "pig" in Chinese.

In the case of Zhu Bajie, the name is made up of two parts:

1. Zhu (猪) – meaning "pig."
2. Bajie (八戒) – which is a compound name. The "Ba" (八) means "eight," and "Jie" (戒) means "to戒" or "abstain from," referring to a form of self-discipline or self-restraint. Together, "Bajie" can be interpreted as the "Eight Precepts" or "Eight Abstentions," referring to the Buddhist precepts that Zhu Bajie is supposed to follow but often fails to do so due to his indulgence in desires.

So, Zhu Bajie literally translates to "Pig Eight Precepts," which reflects both his animal nature (as a pig) and his struggle with spiritual discipline.

In a broader sense, the name also highlights the irony and humor of his character. Despite being a "pig" in name and form, his journey is one of self-improvement and redemption, which is a key theme in Journey to the West.