The two boys that I deeply love are imaginative animals:
One likes to climb the camphor tree, which is his three-story mansion; the other enjoys riding -- oh, no, he enjoys "driving" his police car here and there, patrolling the fairly open area in front of the building.
It's obvious that the one moving from one branch to another is more than a monkey. He invites the smaller one to come and visit as his honored guest. But the latter is too small to climb the tree. He works as a police officer again. Finally, he turns to get hold of me as if he were a naughty monkey -- oh, no, he is not a monkey, but a dog, barking at me as loud as he can!
"Childlike vs. Childish" -- This is the title of Rev. Robert's sermon for today. What he preached was very impressive to me. And I thought I could use the Chinese phrase "赤子之心" (or 赤子心) as the equivalent of the English idea of "being childlike"; and "孩子氣", as "being childish."
Collin's COBUILD Dictionary on CD-ROM 2006 says:
You describe someone as childlike when they seem like a child in their character, appearance, or behavior. (e.g. His most enduring quality is his childlike innocence...)
If you describe someone, especially an adult, as childish, you disapprove of them because they behave in an immature way. (= immature, e.g. ...Penny's selfish and childish behavior... Don't be so childish.)
Far East Pinyin Chinese-English Dictionary (遠東 拼音 漢英辭典) says:
chìzǐzhīxīn 赤子之心: (literally) a child's heart -- man's natural kindness
háiziqì 孩子氣: childish; childishness
As children of our Heavenly Father, we should all know that it's GOOD to be childlike, to have the innocent heart of a child, to have the pure heart of a newborn baby; but it's NOT DESIRABLE at all for us to be childish or immature! -- O Lord, help us really grow up; let us grow well, or even a little better!
The 2018 Moon Festival Party which was hosted by the Village Office of Jishan, in South District, Taichung City (台中市南區積善里中秋晚會) contained quite a few interesting programs. The music band "Four Degrees C" took part in the performances (See #2018-0915 中秋晚會 The Moon Festival Party). My wife, a member of Four Degrees C, sang two songs -- firstly, Ba Sheng Gan Zhou (八聲甘州); and then, together with Mr. Guolong Fang, Huanxi Lai Qiaqia (歡喜來恰恰). Through LINE, a film of this duet was shared with us by Ms. Bizhu Xie, leader of Four Degrees C. The film was so impressive to me that I'd like to share it with you, my dear blog readers! (Click and see the film below.)