There’s a big sale today, and you excitedly tell your mom that you can’t wait to go shopping to buy your favourite soft toy – Garfield – and you’re 25 years old. Your mom instantly says:
- You’re so childish. You’re a grown woman, but you still want to play with soft toys.
Notice the word in red? The correct word is “childlike”
- You’re so childlike. You’re a grown woman, but you still want to play with soft toys.
What’s the difference?
- childish (adj.) – behaving badly like a child would
- childlike (adj.) – having good qualities of a child (e.g.: innocence, easily excited, trusts easily etc.)
Examples:
- His childish behaviour has caused him to lose his job when he shouted at his boss for not being treated fairly.
- She’s so childlike; she believes anything you say without question.