際立つ

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 際立つ, read きわだつ, is an intransitive verb meaning to stand out clearly against one's surroundings.
• Basic usage: It is used for visual contrasts, such as white flowers against a black background, or for a performance that stands out among several actors.
  • 黒い背景に置くと白い花が際立つ。

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Relationship to the object in 際立たせる
  • 花が際立つ says that the flowers stand out, while 花を際立たせる says that another element makes the flowers stand out.