---
title: childish — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «childish» in the school dictionary: Childish describes an older person or their behaviour when it is silly or immature, like a small child's — usually as a criticism. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# childish

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** behaviour, Childish, you, It, jokes, we · **What happens:** be, mean, belong, stop, say, hide · **To what, where:** Childish older person, pencil case, note, childish handwriting, names · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«childish» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [childish in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/childish.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Childish describes an older person or their behaviour when it is silly or immature, like a small child's — usually as a criticism.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:childish:m1:1
# text = Childish describes an older person or their behaviour when it is silly or immature, like a small child's — usually as a criticism.
1	Childish	childish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
2	describes	describe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	older	old	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	amod	_	_
5	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	behaviour	behaviour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
9	when	when	SCONJ	WRB	_	12	mark	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	cop	_	_
12	silly	silly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	acl	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	immature	immature	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	25	punct	_	_
16	like	like	SCONJ	IN	_	25	mark	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
18	small	small	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	19	amod	_	_
19	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	's	's	PART	POS	_	19	case	_	_
21	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	25	punct	_	_
22	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	25	advmod	_	_
23	as	as	ADP	IN	_	25	case	_	_
24	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	criticism	criticism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | a Childish older person or person's behaviour |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | behaviour |  |  |  |  | silly *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **be** |  | behaviour *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Childish means belonging to or like a child: «childish handwriting».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:childish:m2:1
# text = Childish means belonging to or like a child: «childish handwriting».
1	Childish	childish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	belonging	belong	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
6	like	like	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	child	child	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	childish	childish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	handwriting	handwriting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Childish |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **belong** *not said to happen* | gerund | Childish *not said here* |  |  |  |  | to a child | vn attend-107.4-2 «NP V PP»: agent=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Stop being so childish and say sorry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:childish:x1:1
# text = Stop being so childish and say sorry.
1	Stop	stop	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	being	be	AUX	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	cop	_	_
3	so	so	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	childish	childish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	xcomp	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	say	say	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
7	sorry	sorry	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP.eventuality V»: agent=Eventuality |
| 2 | **is** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | childish *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **say** *speech: apologize* | infinitive | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  | sorry *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
It was childish to hide his pencil case.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:childish:x2:1
# text = It was childish to hide his pencil case.
1	It	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	childish	childish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	hide	hide	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	pencil	pencil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	case	case	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | It |  |  |  |  | childish *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **hide** | to-infinitive |  | his pencil case |  |  |  |  | vn concealment-16-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent case=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The note was written in childish handwriting.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:childish:x3:1
# text = The note was written in childish handwriting.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	note	note	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	childish	childish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	handwriting	handwriting	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | past · passive |  | the note |  | childish handwriting |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: subject=Theme in handwriting=Destination |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad's jokes are a bit childish, but we laugh.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:childish:x4:1
# text = Dad's jokes are a bit childish, but we laugh.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	jokes	joke	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
4	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl:unmarked	_	_
7	childish	childish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
9	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
10	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	laugh	laugh	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Dad's jokes |  |  |  |  | a bit *obl:unmarked*; childish *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **laugh** | present | we |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **joke** |  | Dad |  |  |  |  |  | nom joke «communication intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Calling names is childish.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:childish:x5:1
# text = Calling names is childish.
1	Calling	call	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	csubj	_	_
2	names	name	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	childish	childish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | gerund |  | names |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent name=Recipient |
| 2 | **is** | present | Calling |  |  |  |  | childish *property* | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She thought the cartoon was too childish for her.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:childish:x6:1
# text = She thought the cartoon was too childish for her.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	thought	think	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	cartoon	cartoon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	too	too	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	childish	childish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	ccomp	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | past | She |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | past | the cartoon |  |  |  |  | for her *= she*; childish *property* | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His games, too, were quite different; they were not so childish.

<!-- fold The tree, 11 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:childish:x7:1
# text = His games, too, were quite different; they were not so childish.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	games	game	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	too	too	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
6	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	quite	quite	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
10	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
11	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
12	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	_
13	so	so	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
14	childish	childish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | His games |  |  |  |  | different *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **not** **is** | past | games *= game* |  |  |  |  | childish *property* | tree rules |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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