also: ねんず
noun
Buddhist rosary; prayer beads
A string of beads used in Buddhist practice for counting prayers or mantras. Synonymous with 数珠 (じゅず), which is more common in everyday speech.
See also: 数珠
祖母は毎朝、念珠を手に仏壇の前で祈っている。
Every morning, my grandmother prays in front of the family altar with her prayer beads in hand.
お寺で念
I bought a Buddhist rosary at the temple.
数珠 is the more common, everyday term for Buddhist prayer beads. 念珠 is a formal or technical synonym, often used in religious contexts.
From Middle Chinese 念珠 (nem-tsyuw, literally 'mindfulness pearl'). The reading ねんず is a variant of ねんじゅ.