Learn Hardcore Chinese: qíshí zhè gè wèntí bù nán, bié dānxīn, nǐ shìshi jiù dǒng le. - Actually this question isn’t hard; don’t worry

其实 means “actually/in fact” and gently corrects or downplays a possible misconception. It’s not required; without it, the sentence is more direct. You can place it at the start (其实这个问题不难) or after the subject (这个问题其实不难). The second placement slightly emphasizes the topic (这个问题).

Why is it 这个问题 and not just 这问题? What about other measure words?

With demonstratives (这/那), Mandarin normally needs a measure word, here 个: 这个问题. 这问题 is heard in colloquial speech but is less standard. For test/exercise items, people often say 这道题 (measure word 道). 件问题 is not correct.

Why is it 不难 and not something like 不是难?

Adjectives in Chinese can be predicates by themselves, so you negate them directly with 不: 不难. Using 是 before adjectives is generally wrong here; 不是难 is ungrammatical. You could say 不是很难 to mean “not very difficult,” which sounds softer than plain 不难.

Why isn’t there a 很 before 难?

When a bare adjective is the predicate, Mandarin often uses a degree adverb like 很 by default (e.g., 很难). But with negation, 不 already fills that slot, so 不难 is natural. 很不难 is odd in most contexts (“very not difficult”).

What’s the difference between 别担心, 不用担心, and 不要担心?

别担心: imperative “don’t worry,” reassuring and common in speech.
不用担心: “no need to worry,” softer and more neutral.
不要担心: also “don’t worry,” but can sound a bit more formal or admonitory. In many contexts 别担心/不用担心 feel friendlier.

What does 试试 mean and why is the verb repeated?

试试 is verb reduplication, meaning “try (a bit)/give it a try,” which softens the suggestion. The second syllable is usually neutral tone: shì·shi. Close equivalents: 试一试, 试一下 (slightly more “one time”), and 试试看 (“try and see,” a tad more exploratory). Adding 吧—试试吧—makes it more politely suggestive.

What exactly does 就 do in 你试试就懂了?

Here 就 links a condition to a quick/resulting outcome: “as soon as/if you try, then you’ll understand,” highlighting ease and promptness. It often suggests the result happens sooner or more easily than expected. Replacing it with 然后 would merely sequence events and lose the “easily/quickly” nuance.

What kind of 了 is in 懂了? Is it past tense?

了 here marks a new state/result (“come to understand”), not simple past. With verbs like 懂, 了 signals the transition into understanding. Without 了 (就懂) sounds incomplete or like a general statement; 就懂了 is the natural result reading.

Can I say 你试试就会懂了 or 你试试就能懂?

Both are possible, but the base 就懂了 is already natural and concise. Adding 会/能 puts extra focus on ability or futurity:

就会懂了: “you will (then) understand,” slightly more predictive.
就能懂: “you’ll be able to understand,” more about capability. In everyday reassurance, 就懂了 is usually best.

What’s the difference between 懂, 明白, and 知道 here?

懂: grasp/understand (the logic/inner workings).
明白: understand/realize (clarity).
知道: know (a fact).
You can say 你试试就明白了 (fine). 你试试就知道了 shifts toward “you’ll find out/you’ll come to know.”

Are the commas used like this normal in Chinese?

Yes. Chinese uses commas to link short, closely related clauses, often where English might use periods or semicolons. The rhythm “statement, reassurance, instruction+result” is very natural: …，别担心，你试试就懂了。

Any tone tips for this sentence?

其实: qíshí (2–2).
这个: zhè·ge (个 is often neutral).
不难: bù nán (no tone change; 不 becomes bú only before a 4th tone, e.g., 不对 búduì).
试试: shì·shi (second syllable neutral).
就懂了: jiù dǒng le (了 neutral).

Could I drop the 你 and say 试试就懂了?

Yes. Subject pronouns are often omitted when clear from context. Keeping 你 makes the address explicit; dropping it sounds a bit more general or slogan-like.

Is 这问题不难 acceptable?

You’ll hear 这问题 in casual speech, but the standard, safest form is 这个问题. In writing or careful speech, prefer 这个问题不难.

If I want to sound extra polite, how could I tweak the sentence?

Use 您 and soften the suggestion:

其实这个问题不难，您不用担心，您试试看就懂了。
You can also add 吧: 您试试看吧 for a gentle nudge.

Why not say 很容易 instead of 不难?

不难 is a mild, reassuring hedge (“not difficult”), whereas 很容易 is stronger (“very easy”). In many contexts, 不难 is tactful because it encourages without sounding dismissive.

Can I say 试了试就懂了?

Yes, but it changes the time frame. 试了试就懂了 narrates a past sequence (“after trying a bit, [he/you] understood”). 试试就懂了 is a present/future reassurance (“if you give it a try, you’ll understand”).