だけか

is it just...?

→ だけ
phrase Uncommon #9,649
is it just...? Combines だけ (“just” or “only”) with か to form a question, often rhetorical. With かも, as in だけかも, it can mean “maybe it’s just...” or “maybe that’s all.”
JA: 疲れているだけか?
EN: Are you just tired?

こうしてただ集まって詩を読むだけか

So are we just gathering here to read poetry?

— いまを生きる (1989)

お忘れになっただけかと思いました

I thought you had simply forgotten.

既婚者僕らだけかと思ってた

I thought we were the only ones who were married.

— イングリッシュ・ペイシェント (1996)

まだ知ってるのは俺達だけか

Are we still the only ones who know?

— 続・夕陽のガンマン (1966)

お父さんが許さない米国の女子高生携帯なし彼女だけか

Among American high school girls whose fathers don't allow it, is she the only one without a cellphone?

— ワン・バトル・アフター・アナザー (2025)

冬眠するのはクマだけかと思ってたけど先生がカメ冬眠するって言ってた

I thought bears were the only animals that hibernate, but my teacher said turtles hibernate too.

もう一度だけかを貸してあげよう

I'll lend you money just one more time.

結局コーヒーが欲しかっただけか

So you just wanted coffee after all?

— レザボア・ドッグス (1992)

目標もない唯一の目標は格好いいスニーカーだけか

You have no goals? Is your only goal to get cool sneakers?

— ANORA アノーラ (2024)

唇が滑っただけか

Did it just slip out?

— TAXi (1998)

お前らだけか

Are you guys the only ones here?

— エリート・スクワッド (2007)

殺すだけか

Are you just going to kill me?

— 炎628 (1985)

祥太なんだだけか

(Shota) Oh, it’s just the sound.

— 万引き家族 (2018)

記者だけか

Are you the only reporter?

— タクシー運転手 約束は海を越えて (2017)