How to Say ‘Which button should I press?’ in Japanese
どのボタンを押せばいいですか？
dono botan o ose ba ii desu ka
[doh-noh boh-TAHN wo oh-SEH bah ee-ee dess kah]
🇯🇵 In Japan: The ticket machine usually has separate buttons for each type of application, and they are often in Japanese only. Asking a staff member nearby this exact question is completely normal.
Phrase Breakdown
どのボタンを
dono botan o
which button (object)
どの (dono) means 'which', and ボタン (botan) means 'button'. を marks the object.
どのボタンですか？
Which button is it?
Words in this phrase
どの
dono
[doh-noh]
which
Used before a noun to ask which one among several choices.
どの席がいいですか。
Which seat is good?
ボタン
botan
[boh-TAHN]
button
A button to press on a machine or clothing.
このボタンを押してください。
Please press this button.
を
o
[wo]
direct object marker
Marks the direct object of a verb.
本を読む。
Read a book.
押せばいいですか？
ose ba ii desu ka
should I press?
Asks what you should do. 押す (osu) means 'to press'. Say 'ii' as one long 'i' sound.
赤いボタンを押せばいいですか？
Should I press the red button?
Words in this phrase
押せ
ose
[oh-SEH]
press (conditional stem)
Form of 押す 'to press/push' used before ば to mean 'if I press'.
ここを押せば開きます。
If you press here, it opens.
ば
ba
[bah]
if (conditional)
Conditional ending meaning 'if', attached to the verb's conditional stem.
痛ければ、言ってください。
If it hurts, please tell me.
いい
ii
[ee-ee]
good; nice
A common adjective used to show approval or a positive impression.
その考えはいいですね。
That idea is nice.
です
desu
[dess]
is; polite copula
A polite sentence ending used in formal conversation.
少し伺いたいです。
I would like to ask a little.
か
ka
[kah]
question marker
Placed at the end of a sentence to make it a question.
A席はありますか。
Are there A seats available?
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