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What is the difference between childish and childlike?
What does it mean if a person is childish?
What does childlike mean in a sentence?
What does childish behavior mean?
Childish and childlike initially meant nearly the same thing: “resembling or suggesting a child.”. 'Childlike' is generally used in a positive or neutral way. 'Childish'...not so much. Childish is the older term, dating to Old English from before the 12th century.
“Childish” is generally considered negative, as it implies a lack of maturity, emotional intelligence, or proper behavior expected of an adult. It is often used to criticize or disapprove someone’s actions or attitude.
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- Definitions
- Examples
- Usage Notes
- Practice Exercises
- Answers to Practice Exercises: Childish and Childlike
Childishcommonly means silly or immature. This adjective usually (but not always) points to unfavorable qualities. Childlike means trusting or innocent, and it generally refers to the more positive or favorable qualities of a child.
"Her hands were beautiful too, and he noticed, looking at them slantwise and secretly, that the nail varnish was cracking and she had broken or chewed off the nail of her right pointer finger. It w..."Underneath each figure was written a name: Mama, Papa, Carla, Luka, in childish handwriting. Beside each was a small red heart drawn in crayon." (Glenn Meade, The Last Witness. Howard Books, 2014)."Papa Ford loved my mother (as did nearly everyone) with a childlike devotion." (Maya Angelou, Gather Together in My Name. Random House, 1974)"Even after Roosevelt had thrown him to the the wolves, Upton Sinclair never lost a certain childlike faith in FDR: a faith reflecting that of millions of other Americans." (Kevin Starr, Endangered..."Childish relates to something typical of a child, especially in a derogatory sense when applied to an adult: 'Shouts of childish laughter rang in the park,' 'For goodness' sake, grow up and stop b..."The distinction drawn is so familiar that childish is in some danger of being restricted to the depreciatory use that is only one of its functions, while childlike is applied outside its sphere; t...(a) Beth hissed, snarled, and kicked her legs in a _____ tantrum. (b) Uncle Ned had a _____ faith in the power of love to transform lives. Answers to Practice Exercises
(a) Beth hissed, snarled, and kicked her legs in a childish tantrum. (b) Uncle Ned had a childlikefaith in the power of love to transform lives.
The best way to grasp the difference between childish and childlike is to understand their meaning. Being childish means, we are showing an immature, impulsive, narcissistic behaviour, whereas being childlike means we have that kind of innocence, or honesty, which a child has.
While both words refer to qualities related to children, they have distinct connotations. Understanding the difference between the two words is important for effective communication. Childish refers to behavior that is immature, selfish, and lacking in self-control.
To sum up, ‘childish’ and ‘child-like’ are not synonymous and can’t be used interchangeably. When one is using these words, one has to understand the context or will end up misusing them. This article talks about the essential points that help one to know the correct usage of these two terms.
"Childish" typically carries a negative connotation and suggests behavior that is inappropriate for one's age or situation. Childlike: Use "childlike" when describing behavior that is innocent, pure, or reminiscent of the positive qualities associated with children.
