Japanese with Manga
Learning through examples in manga

イヤリング vs ピアス

An イヤリング is an accessory worn on one’s ear and can be worn without piercing. This term is limited to attachments worn speficially on the ear.

A ピアス is an accessory attached via a piercing. This term can refer to an accessory worn in a piercing anywhere on the body, not limited to the ear.

Further Reading

Examples

A picked-up earring with イヤリング

Manga panel from 俺物語!! showing example of イヤリング vs ピアス.
俺物語!! » Volume 4 » Page 92

Takeo runs after a mother and her child to give them a shoe they dropped. Due to Takeo’s large size and loud steps, the mother and child get frightened and run from him. After he manages to return the dropped item, Takeo returns to his friends.

Rinko remarks that the scene was like “A Bear in the Forest”. Sunakawa recalls the song.

砂川(すなかわ):
「あーイヤリング拾(ひろ)って追(お)いかけるやつね」
“Ah, the one who picked up an earring and chased after.”
猛男(たけお):
「そうか　熊(くま)だと思(おも)われたのか」
“I see. It's that I was thought of as a bear?”

Bead as an earring with ピアス

Manga panel from 好きな子がめがねを忘れた showing example of イヤリング vs ピアス.
好きな子がめがねを忘れた » Volume 5 » Page 56

Komura sees Mie pick up an item she dropped and he wonders if it’s an earring. He fails to get a look at whether Mie’s ears are pierced. During class later, Mie shows Komura the item held up to her ear calling it a 「ピアス」. She then reveals it’s just a bead.

三重(みえ):
「私(わたし)ピアス開(あ)けてないし」
“Since I don't have my ears pierced.”
小村(こむら):
「あっ…　…今朝(けさ)落(お)としてたのもビーズ？」
“Ah, the item you dropped this morning was a bead?”
三重(みえ):
「うん」
“Mmhm.”