Vocabulary
B2
6 min read
Updated 15 June 2026
Quick Answer
Childish is a negative word meaning immature, silly, or behaving badly in a way that is unsuitable for an adult: stop being so childish. Childlike is a positive (or neutral) word describing the good qualities of children — innocence, wonder, trust, simplicity: a childlike sense of wonder. Both describe child-like traits in an adult, but childish criticises while childlike admires.
Childish and childlike both compare an adult to a child, yet they carry opposite feelings. The difference is one of connotation — the positive or negative colour a word adds. Childish is a criticism: it suggests an adult is being immature, petty, or silly. Childlike is a compliment: it suggests an adult has kept the lovely, innocent qualities of childhood. Same comparison, opposite judgement.
At a Glance: Childish vs Childlike
| Word | Part of Speech | Pronunciation | Core Meaning |
|---|
| childish |
adjective |
/ˈtʃaɪldɪʃ/ |
silly or immature; behaving in a way unsuitable for an adult (negative) |
| childlike |
adjective |
/ˈtʃaɪldlʌk/ |
having the innocence, trust, or wonder of a child (positive) |
Using “Childish”
Childish is a negative adjective. When you call an adult’s behaviour childish, you are criticising it as immature, petty, or silly — the kind of thing a small child might do but an adult should have grown out of. It often describes sulking, tantrums, or refusing to be reasonable.
When to use it
- Criticising immature behaviour: a childish tantrum
- Pettiness or sulking: don’t be so childish about it
- Things unsuitable for adults: childish handwriting, childish jokes
- Almost always disapproving in tone
- Related word: childishly, childishness
Refusing to speak to her over something so small is just childish.
He threw a childish tantrum when he lost the game.
Their childish name-calling embarrassed everyone.
Stop being so childish and apologise.
The argument descended into childish bickering.
Using “Childlike”
Childlike is a positive or neutral adjective. It describes the appealing qualities we associate with children — innocence, openness, trust, curiosity, and a sense of wonder — when they appear in an adult. Calling someone childlike is usually a compliment.
When to use it
- Admiring innocence or wonder: childlike enthusiasm
- Trust and openness: childlike honesty
- Simplicity and joy: a childlike delight in small things
- Generally approving or affectionate in tone
- Related senses: childlike faith, childlike charm
She has a childlike sense of wonder about the natural world.
His childlike enthusiasm made the project fun for everyone.
There was a childlike honesty in the way she spoke.
The artist kept a childlike delight in colour and shape.
He gazed at the fireworks with childlike joy.
The Key Difference
The words describe the same comparison — an adult resembling a child — but the connotation is opposite. Childish is negative and judging: it means immature and silly in a bad way. Childlike is positive and admiring: it means innocent and wonder-filled in a good way. If you mean to criticise, choose childish; if you mean to praise, choose childlike.
Memory Tip
Think about the endings. Childish shares its -ish with words like foolish and selfish — not flattering. Childlike contains the word like, as in something likeable and pleasant. -ish = a put-down; -like = something you’d like to keep.
Common Mistakes
I admire her childish sense of wonder.
I admire her childlike sense of wonder. (praising innocence needs the positive childlike)
Stop being so childlike and grow up.
Stop being so childish and grow up. (criticising immaturity needs the negative childish)
His childish trust in people is touching.
His childlike trust in people is touching. (admirable trust is childlike)
Their childlike bickering ruined the meeting.
Their childish bickering ruined the meeting. (petty squabbling is childish)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between childish and childlike?
Both words compare an adult to a child, but they carry opposite feelings. Childish is negative and means silly, immature, or petty, behaving in a way unsuitable for an adult, as in a childish tantrum. Childlike is positive and means having the innocence, wonder, trust, or simplicity of a child, as in a childlike sense of wonder. So if you want to criticise immature behaviour, use childish, and if you want to praise innocent, charming qualities, use childlike.
Is childish always negative?
Yes, in almost all cases childish is negative. When you describe an adult or their behaviour as childish, you are criticising it as immature, petty, or silly, the sort of thing a young child does but an adult should have outgrown. It implies disapproval. There are rare neutral technical uses, such as childish handwriting simply meaning unformed, but even then it tends to sound critical. If you want to say something good about child-like qualities, use childlike instead.
Is childlike always positive?
Childlike is usually positive or at least neutral. It highlights the appealing qualities of children, such as innocence, openness, trust, curiosity, and wonder, when these appear in an adult. Calling someone childlike is generally a compliment, as in childlike enthusiasm or childlike honesty. Occasionally context can make it sound slightly naive, but it is far more flattering than childish. When you want to admire someone's freshness or innocence, childlike is the right word.
Can you call an adult childlike as a compliment?
Yes. Describing an adult as childlike is normally a kind and admiring thing to say. It suggests they have kept the best qualities of childhood, such as curiosity, joy, trust, and a sense of wonder, without being foolish. For example, his childlike delight in small things made him a joy to be around. By contrast, calling the same adult childish would be an insult, implying immaturity. So childlike praises, while childish criticises.
What is a connotation, and why does it matter here?
A connotation is the feeling or attitude a word carries beyond its plain meaning. Childish and childlike have almost the same literal meaning, resembling a child, but opposite connotations: childish feels negative and disapproving, while childlike feels positive and affectionate. This is why choosing the right one matters so much. The dictionary definition alone will not tell you which to use; you must consider whether you want to criticise or to praise, and let the connotation guide your choice.
How do you pronounce childish and childlike?
Childish is pronounced /ˈtʃaɪldɪʃ/, CHILE-dish, with the second syllable like dish. Childlike is pronounced /ˈtʃaɪldlʌk/, CHILE-dlike, with the second part like the word like. Both begin with child, rhyming with mild. The endings give the clue to their meaning: -ish in childish patterns with words like foolish and selfish, while -like in childlike contains the pleasant word like. Saying the endings clearly can remind you of each word's tone.
What are some examples of childish behaviour?
Childish behaviour in an adult includes sulking, throwing tantrums, refusing to compromise, name-calling, petty revenge, and bickering over trivial things. For example, giving someone the silent treatment because they disagreed with you is childish. All of these are immature reactions that we expect a small child to grow out of. Because they are criticised as inappropriate for an adult, childish is the correct word, not childlike, which describes positive rather than negative child-like traits.
What are some examples of childlike qualities?
Childlike qualities include wonder, curiosity, openness, trust, honesty, enthusiasm, and a simple capacity for joy. For example, gazing at the stars with childlike wonder, asking questions with childlike curiosity, or feeling childlike excitement on the first day of snow. These are admired traits that adults sometimes lose and are praised for keeping. Because they are positive, the right word is childlike, whereas childish would wrongly suggest these lovely qualities were immature or silly.
Can the same action be described by both words?
Sometimes, depending on how the speaker feels about it. Imagine an adult laughing uncontrollably at a silly cartoon. A kind observer might call this childlike, admiring their easy joy and lack of self-consciousness. A critical observer might call it childish, judging it as immature. The action is the same, but the word reveals the speaker's attitude. This shows how powerful connotation is: childlike frames the behaviour as charming, while childish frames it as inappropriate.
How can I remember which word is positive?
Use the endings. Childish ends in -ish, the same ending as in foolish, selfish, and snobbish, which are all unflattering, so childish is negative. Childlike contains the word like, as in something likeable or pleasant, so childlike is positive. In short, -ish is a put-down and -like is something you would like to keep. Recall which ending the word has, and you will know whether it is meant as a criticism or a compliment.
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