nim6 zyu1念珠
Jyutpingnim6 zyu1
Yalenihm jyū
Definition
Prayer beads or rosary used to count recitations in religions such as Buddhism, Catholicism, and Islam.
neutralother
How it's used
While often associated with Buddhist practice, the term is used across various faiths to describe any string of beads used for counting prayers. It is distinct from simple decorative bracelets, as it carries a functional religious purpose. When referring to the act of using them, people often use the verb 數.
Measure word
cyun3串chyunExamples
Are you thinking of buying a string of prayer beads to take home?
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 佛珠, which specifically refers to Buddhist prayer beads. While they are often interchangeable in casual speech, 念珠 is the broader, more neutral term for prayer beads of any religion.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
