Believe in Yourself

Don't be trapped by dogma, which is living with the results of other people's thinking.

- Steve Jobs

Focus on Your Strengths

Success is achieved by developing our strengths, not by eliminating our weaknesses.

- Marilyn vos Savant

정말 vs. 진짜 vs. 너무

What is the difference among 정말, 진짜, and 너무?

정말 means "really" (usually for positive endings)
정말 is about truth "in words" (as opposed to 거짓말, "lie")

For example:

- 정말 귀엽다. (Really, it's cute.)

진짜 means "true, truly"

진짜 has another sense of  "genuine" (as opposed to 가짜, "fake, forgery")

진짜 is more often used for questions or when annoyed.

For example: 

- "Oh. 진짜?" ("Truly?")

- "Ah! 진짜!" ("Why you acting like that!")

너무 means "too much"

It is suppose to be for negative things/sentences to show that is it too much or excessive.

For example:

- 너무 나쁘다. (It's too bad.)

진짜 and 정말 can be used interchangeably as "really", but 진짜 sounds a little informal than 정말. Sometimes Korean will use 너무 with positive endings.

For example:

- 너무 귀엽다. (It's too cute.)

- 너무 예뻐. (Really pretty.)

Reference:

[1] https://www.italki.com/question/279956?hl=ko

[2] https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120627005742AAtnqz4

[3] https://forum.unilang.org/viewtopic.php?t=33879

Depend on vs. Depending on

What is the difference between depend on and depending on?

Depend on is used as a verb.

For example:

- His success in the interview depends on the interviewer.

In this sentence depends is a verb. It is the main verb in the sentence. The subject of depends is a noun phrase, his success in interview.

Depending on is used to add on extra information to a sentence or clause.

For example:

- He could do well in the interview, depending on the interviewer.

The main verb in that sentence is could do. The subject is he. The part at the end of sentence, depending on the interviewer, gives us extra information. It is not essential for the grammar, or for the meaning.

Reference:

[1] http://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/43690/use-of-depend-on-and-depending-on

Because of vs. Due to

What is the difference between because of and due to?

Because of is a preposition used to introduce an adverbial phrase and means “as a result of." It is not used after after a form of the verb to be.

For example:

- She had a headache because of the enormous elephant peculiarly perched on her head.

Due to is a predicate adjective + preposition that means "the result of" or "resulting from." It is always used after a form of the verb to be.

For example:

- Her headache was due to the enormous elephant peculiarly perched on her head.

Due to has to follow some form of the verb to be.

Reference:

[1] http://linguistech.ca/Tips+and+Tricks+-+Because+of+vs.+Due+to

지금 and 이제

What is the difference between 지금 and 이제?

They means "now", but they have have slightly different nuances.

지금 is "now" as a point in time.

For example:

- 지금은 여름이다. (It's summertime.)

- 지금 왔어요? (You came now?)

- 지금은 볼 수 있습니다. (I can see it now.)

이제 is "now" as a result of passing time. It may include the past or the future, as in, these days, or from now on, going to, etc.

For example:

- 이제는 여름이다. (It's summer now.) (the spring is gone)

- 이제 왔어요? (You came late!)

- 이제부터 열심히 공부 해야겠어요. (I should start studying for real from now on.)

As you can see, 이제 has a slightly wider usage than 지금.

Reference:

[1] https://www.koreanclass101.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2489 

[2] http://koreanselfstudyisntlame.blogspot.co.id/2010/05/kgysak-vs_24.html

같이 and 함께

What is the difference between 같이 and 함께?

They means "together (with)", but they means a little bit different.

같이 can be used for two more people or things.

For example:

- 친구와 같이 사업을 하다. (Make a business with my friend together.)

- 친구들과 같이 공부합니다. (Learn with friends together.)

함께 can be used for saying "together at once" or "together with somebody". 

For example:

- 온가족이 함께 여행을 갑니다. (All my family go traveling together.)

- 나는 동생과 함께 공부합니다. (I study with my brother together.)

같이 is more commonly used than 함께.

Reference:

[1] https://www.italki.com/question/92442

[2] http://www.howtostudykorean.com/unit1/unit-1-lessons-9-16/lesson-13/

Machine vs. Engine

What is the difference between Machine and Engine?

Machine is a device that directs and controls energy, often in the form of movement or electricity, to produce a certain effect. It has many parts, each with a definite functions, together performing a particular task. For example, a car is a machine because it has many parts that together performing a particular task.

Engine is a component with moving parts that converts energy into motion. Engine is the heart of the machine, due to which the machine works. For example, a car engine converts energy from fuel to motion. Engine is one type of machine. It does useful work only when it is converted to a machine.

All engines can be called as machines, but not all machines can be called as engines.

In computing context, machine is a computer/electronics devices while engine is a hardware or software system responsible for a specific task. For example, a modem (machine) needs a baseband processor (engine).

Reference:

[1] https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-an-engine-and-machine

[2] http://wikidiff.com/engine/machine