念珠

Noun

 * 1) prayer beads; rosary

Etymology 1
From compound, in reference to “beads used for thinking [about the Buddha]”: that is, prayer beads, a rosary. The goon reading, so likely the earliest borrowing. Note that the second character has a goon reading of su.

Noun

 * 1) prayer beads, rosary

Usage notes
The reading nenzu is a homophone with several terms of related meanings:
 * the older reading of the term, meaning “the act of focusing on the image of the Buddha within one's mind, and reciting or chanting the sutras or the name of Buddha”.
 * the classical Japanese verb (modern  nenzuru or  nenjiru) meaning “to pray, to pray for safety and protection, to recite silently (a prayer, chant, sutra, or the name of Buddha)”.
 * the classical Japanese verb or, meaning “to twist or twirl, to pinch or pick with the fingers”, much as one would twist or pinch the beads of the rosary.

Both the nenzu and nenju readings are still in use. Nenju appears to be more common.

Etymology 2
Alteration of nenzu above, using the kan'on reading of shu for the character.

Noun

 * 1) prayer beads, rosary

Usage notes
The reading nenju is a homophone with the relatively newer reading of the term, meaning “the act of focusing on the image of the Buddha within one's mind, and reciting or chanting the sutras or the name of Buddha”.

Both the nenzu and nenju readings are still in use. Nenju appears to be more common.