Here's a breakdown:
* 天竺 (tiān zhú) refers to India, as it was historically believed that guinea pigs originated from India.
* 鼠 (shǔ) means "rat" or "mouse".
While it's literally "India rat," it's the standard term for guinea pig in Mandarin.
There are other less common ways to say it, including:
* 荷兰猪 (hé lán zhū), meaning "Dutch pig," which is less commonly used.
* 豚鼠 (tún shǔ), meaning "pig rat," which is more formal and less common.
However, 天竺鼠 (tiān zhú shǔ) is the most widely understood and accepted term for "guinea pig" in Mandarin.