when learning English, how to distinguish difference of words with similar meaning
For example, "carriage" and "wagon" both mean a kind of vehicle with four wheels, "stubborn " and "obstinate" can both used to describe someone who insist on his opinion.
Can we use it at liberty ? if not, how to distinguish the difference? Because for some words, I really can't find any difference.

Question

when learning English, how to distinguish difference of words with similar meaning
For example, "carriage" and "wagon" both mean a kind of vehicle with four wheels, "stubborn " and "obstinate" can both used to describe someone who insist on his opinion. 
Can we use it at liberty ? if not, how to distinguish the difference? Because for some words, I really can't find any difference.

Answer

For many similar words, there may be no real difference in the definition, but some usages will sound more natural than others to a native speaker.  The best way to see how a word is typically used is to use a search engine to find examples of the word or phrase in context.  For 'carriage' and 'wagon', the meanings are very similar, but I have a different picture in my mind for each.  You could get some idea of what is normally called a wagon and what is normally called a carriage by comparing these:
https://www.google.com/search?safe=off&site=&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=980&bih=643&q=wagon&oq=wagon&gs_l=img.3..0l2j0i24j0j0i30l6.3610.4600.0.5001.5.5.0.0.0.0.134.491.4j1.5.0....0...1ac.1.64.img..0.5.489.F4t4DCgKYkE
https://www.google.com/search?safe=off&biw=1024&bih=672&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=lkWoV8qBK4nrmQHW1rXACg&q=carriage&oq=carriage&gs_l=mobile-gws-serp.3..0l3j0i30l2.51361.52706.0.52996.9.6.0.3.3.0.124.665.0j6.6.0....0...1c.1.64.mobile-gws-serp..0.9.738.3..41.UI3P6xEprgE

Answer

For concrete/touchable/objective words u can easily browse GOOGLE IMAGES :)
But for Abstract/subjective words u should check the difference in textual sources. Site and forums can be helpful. Or simply google "stubborn vs. obstinate". The specialized source for this purpose is some kind of book called ”lexicon”

Answer

For concrete/touchable/objective words u can easily browse GOOGLE IMAGES :)
But for Abstract/subjective words u should check the difference in textual sources. Site and forums can be helpful. Or simply google "stubborn vs. obstinate". The specialized source for this purpose is some kind of book called ”lexicon”

Answers · 5

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