Let’s look at the difference between childish and childlike, two words that Czech learners sometimes confuse.
If we describe someone as childish, it sounds negative. It suggests that the person is immature, silly, or behaving in a way that is not appropriate for their age. So the sentence My boss is childish is definitely not a compliment. We use this word when we want to criticise someone’s behaviour.
If, on the other hand, we want to say that someone is playful, curious, or full of wonder, the correct word is childlike. For example: She has a childlike sense of wonder. This means she has that lovely childlike curiosity and amazement about the world.
W: It was childlike to get angry over such a small thing.
R: It was childish to get angry over such a small thing.
