に～を重ねて… upon …; again and again
The same noun twice, with 重ねる (to pile up): effort upon effort, round after round of talks. It says how much went into something.
After improvement upon improvement, the product was at last ready for practical use.
How to form it
Noun + に + the same noun + を重ねて
重ねる takes whatever ending the sentence needs: 重ねた末, 重ねた結果, 重ねてきた.
- The noun
- Work done round after round, or trouble that keeps coming: 努力, 検討, 議論, 改良, 練習, 苦労, 失敗. Any noun of that kind fits.
- After it
- Usually what it all led to, good or bad.
- Where you'll meet it
- Speeches, news, company histories, documentaries. Rare in everyday conversation.
In use
Through effort upon effort, she was finally picked for the national team.
After round upon round of review, the plan was scrapped.
After failure upon failure, he finally stepped down as manager.
With the noun said once
議論を重ねる already means to discuss something again and again. Saying the noun twice turns it up.
After repeated discussion, the committee settled on a final proposal.
A plain report.
After round upon round of discussion, the committee settled on a final proposal.
It took a great deal, and you want that felt.
Close neighbours
考えに考えてN1
The same thing with a verb: 考えに考えて. A する verb isn't said twice as a verb; its noun is, with を重ねる.
After thinking long and hard, I decided to put off studying abroad for a year.
Check yourself
1What does this mean?
両社は
Choose an answer to see why.
2Which one fits?
彼は
Choose an answer to see why.
More detail
When things simply happen one on top of another, it is が重なる.
By one coincidence on top of another, the two met again after ten years.
More sentences
After hardship upon hardship, they finally got the shop on its feet.
The research team ran experiment after experiment until they tracked down the cause.
The site was chosen only after survey upon survey.