childish — childlike
“Childish”, for the right pronunciation, please click here, suggests ‘less pleasing and/or admirable qualities, such as silliness, foolishness, weakness in an adult or grown-up person’,
e.g.
She’s being childish! Why doesn’t she behave like a grown-up she is!
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“childlike”, for the right pronunciation,
please click here, suggests ‘admirable qualities, such as innocence, simplicity, truthfulness in an adult or grown-up’,
e.g.
She maintained a childlike innocence throughout her life.
Common Errors:
His childish innocence appealed to all. [wrong] [the sense is neither favourable nor unfavourable]
His childish innocence annoyed all. [right] [the sense is ‘unfavourable’]
OR
His childlike innocence appealed to all. [right] [the sense is ‘favourable’]
