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Every now and then I hear 待ちに待った, as in:

> 待ちに待ったライブ a long-awaited concert

I started wondering if this pattern can apply to other verbs, and it certainly
seems to, if Google is any indication. I found instances of 望みに望んだ, 祈りに祈った,
and even things like 飲みに飲んだ.

**Question A** : Can I use this pattern with any verb showing intent? Is there
a particular nuance behind it, or does it simply mean "to [verb] and then
[verb] some more"?

**Question B** : For the linguists in the room (y'all know who you are), how
is the に classified in this pattern? Is it the same に as in 買いに行く?
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2011-07-11T13:54:21.533
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2011-07-13T14:03:17.367
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question
grammar usage particles verbs particle-に
How does one use the "[V ます stem] に [Vタ]" pattern (as in 待ちに待った)?
It seems to just be for emphasis, as this sort of "emphasis-repetition" is
common in other languages as well. I've only heard it a handful of times, in
regards to foods:

> のど渇きに渇いています → I am extremely thirsty  
>  お腹すきにすいた → I was really hungry

**Question A:** Not sure of any nuances of it or in which situations it is
appropriate (either grammatically or otherwise).

**Question B:** Seems to be the same に. As talked about in [this
post](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/1320/correct-usage-of-verb-
stem-another-verb), this form (X連用形＋に＋Y) means "do Y for the purpose of X";
'Go' for the purpose of 'buying', etc. So this would seem to be in line with
the emphasis; 'wait for the purpose of waiting', 'hope for the purpose of
hoping', etc.
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2011-07-11T14:53:01.467
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answer
I agree with istarsci's answer. But there may be a little bit to add.

There seems to be a phonological restriction. That is, this construction does
not seem to be allowed with verbs whose stem is only one mora. The following
examples are ungrammatical:

>   * ×得に得る
>   * ×来に来る
>   * ×しにする
>   * ×寝に寝る
>   * ×見に見る
>

There is also a fixed expression used with negation:

> 泣くに泣けない 'so sad/bad that one cannot even cry/crying will not help'
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answer