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I'm trying to figure out how to ask where I can buy something. From the
lessons I've taken so far, what comes to mind is どこに＿を買いますか？ Google says this
translates to "Where should I buy a ＿?" which would be acceptable in English,
but I guess it's not conveying what I want to say exactly. Would this be the
correct way to ask in Japanese or is there a better way to ask "Where can I
buy [something]?"
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2018-01-31T15:37:06.000
56337
2019-03-27T11:38:47.127
27531
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How to ask where I can buy something
Most commonly (and simply), we would say:

> 「Xはどこで買えますか。」

Note that it is 「どこ **で** 」 and not 「どこ **に** 」.

Also, 「買 **え** ますか」 would be more natural than 「買 **い** ますか」 for "can buy".
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2018-01-31T15:53:40.480
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2018-01-31T15:53:40.480
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You can also say

> Xはどこで **売っています** か。 → Where do they _sell_ X?

The implication (obviously) is that if something is being sold, then you are
able to buy it. That being said, you wouldn't use this form if you're wanting
to buy something that is not commonly sold (rare/uncommon items, illegal
items, etc.)

So you have to use a bit of common sense here: if you know it's something that
is not readily available to the general market, don't use **売っています**. Then
you'd need to use **買えます** ("can buy") as explained in the other answer.
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2018-01-31T17:09:03.680
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2018-01-31T17:09:03.680
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