綴玉聯(lián)珠 zhuì yù lián zhū This phrase literally means "connecting jade and pearls," where "jade" and "pearls" are used metaphorically to represent beautiful phrases in poetry and prose. It describes the language in literary works as splendid and coherent, just like strings of jade and pearls. It can also be used to refer to the creation of beautiful literary pieces. Source: It originates from the poem "Elegy for Bai Juyi" by Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, which reads, "For sixty years, stringing jade and pearls, who taught you to become a poetic immortal in the realm of the dead?"