目立つ

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 目立つ is a godan intransitive verb read めだつ, meaning to stand out or be noticeable against one's surroundings.
• Basic usage: It can describe a small stain visible against a light background or a location chosen so that a sign is easy to notice.
  • 白い壁では小さな汚れも目立つ。 says that even a small stain stands out on a white wall; 案内板を目立つ場所へ移した。 says that the sign was moved to a noticeable location.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 小さな汚れも目立つ
  • も emphasizes that even a small stain is noticeable against the white wall.
• 目立つ場所
  • The plain form 目立つ modifies 場所 and describes a location that is easy to notice.
• 目立つ and 注目する
  • 目立つ describes something standing out on its own, while 注目する is the action of directing attention toward it.