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How to Say ‘I pressed the button.’ in Japanese

ボタンを押しました。

botan o oshi mashi ta

[boh-tahn oh oh-shee mah-shee tah]

💬 Usage Tip: Pattern: [NをVました] = “I did N.” If you want to sound extra clear: [リセットボタンを押しました。]

🇯🇵 In Japan: If you can, mention where the button was (kitchen/bath controller). Location details help the landlord guess the exact model/setup.

Phrase Breakdown

ボタン

botan

[boh-tahn]

button

ボタン is “button.” Saying ボタンを押しました clearly reports what you already tried to fix the problem.

Example

指示どおり、ボタンを押しました。

As instructed, I pressed the button.

o

[oh]

object marker

を marks the direct object of the action: ボタンを押す = “press the button.”

Example

リセットボタンを押しました。

I pressed the reset button.

押しました

oshi mashi ta

pressed (polite)

Polite past of 押す (to press/push). Used when reporting what you did.

Example

スタートを押しました。

I pressed Start.

Words in this phrase

押し

oshi

[oh-shee]

press (stem)

押し is the verb stem of 押す (to press). Used with ました for polite past.

Example

ボタンを押してから待ちました。

I waited after pressing the button.

まし

mashi

[mah-shee]

polite verb ending (part)

まし forms the polite style (〜ます). With た → ました.

Example

ボタンを押しましたが、直りません。

I pressed the button, but it won’t get fixed.

ta

[tah]

past polite ending (part)

た completes the polite past ました. Useful for reporting completed actions to your landlord.

Example

説明書を見てボタンを押しました。

I looked at the manual and pressed the button.

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