Childlike vs. childish
What does childlike mean?
Childlike is an adjective used to describe an adult who has qualities often associated with a child. Childlike implies a positive connotation.
For example:
He is childlike when he sees a bug.
What does childish mean?
Childish is an adjective used to describe an adult who has negative qualities often associated with a child.
For example:
It was childish for her to refuse to give him some of the cake.
What’s the difference between childlike and childish?
Childlike implies a positive connotation, such as innocence, while childish is a derogative term implying immaturity.
He may have a childlike obsession with finding bugs but his dedication to the study of entomology is anything but childish.