X归X，Y归Y for “X Is X and Y Is Y”
X归X，Y归Y keeps two things apart (朋友归朋友，规定归规定), and X归X alone admits a point before a “but” (贵归贵，味道真不错).
句型
X 归 X，Y 归 Y ｜ X 归 X，(可是 / 还是) + other point
Repeating a word around 归 treats each thing separately: 朋友归朋友，规定归规定 means “friends are friends and rules are rules,” so friendship does not change the rules. With only one half, X归X admits a point and the next clause turns to a more important one: 贵归贵，味道真不错 “it is expensive, sure, but it tastes great.”
朋友归朋友，规定归规定，你也得排队。
When to use X归X，Y归Y for “X Is X and Y Is Y”
Put the same word on both sides of 归. In the full pattern, two such pairs stand side by side: 工作归工作，生活归生活. The message is that the two things should not be mixed up, so one does not change the other. The next clause often says what follows: 你也得排队.
说归说，做归做，他答应的事常常做不到。
Saying is one thing and doing is another; he often doesn’t do what he promises.
贵归贵，可是味道真不错。
It’s expensive, sure, but it really tastes good.
累归累，大家都觉得这次旅行很值得。
Tired as we were, everyone felt the trip was worth it.
工作归工作，生活归生活，下班以后别总想着工作。
Work is work and life is life; don’t keep thinking about work after you clock off.
常见误区
- Use exactly the same word on both sides of 归: 说归说, not 说归讲.
- In the one-half use, add a turning clause with 可是, 但 or 还是: 玩归玩，作业还是要写.
- 归 here doesn’t mean “return”; it shows that each thing belongs to its own place.
针对性练习
先练这个句式，再继续往下看。