目立つ
めだつ·medatsu
Meaning
to stand out; to be conspicuous; to be noticeable
Nuance & Usage
目立つ means to stand out or be easily noticed. It can be positive (目立つ存在 — a prominent presence) or negative (シミが目立つ — stains are noticeable). 目立たない means 'inconspicuous.' 目立ちたがり屋 (medachitagariya) means 'an attention seeker.' In Japanese culture, standing out too much can sometimes be viewed negatively — the proverb 出る杭は打たれる (the nail that sticks out gets hammered down) reflects this.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 目立つ with 有名 (yuumei — famous). 目立つ means physically or visually standing out, while 有名 means being well-known. A bright red jacket 目立つ in a crowd, but it isn't 有名. Also, 目立つ is a godan verb (五段活用): 目立たない (negative), 目立って (te-form), 目立った (past). Don't conjugate it as an ichidan verb.
Example Sentences (3)
彼女は赤いドレスを着ていたので、とても目立っていた。
かのじょはあかいどれすをきていたので、とてもめだっていた。
She was very noticeable because she was wearing a red dress.
最近、白髪が目立つようになってきた。
さいきん、しらがめだつようになってきた。
Recently, my gray hair has become more noticeable.
あまり目立たないように静かにしていた。
あまりめだたないようにしずかにしていた。
I kept quiet so as not to stand out too much.
Quick Quiz
Quick Quiz
N24 questionsTest your knowledge of 目立つ with 4 different question types.
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