Před odpovědí se chceme poradit.

Because Czech often leaves subject pronouns out when the verb ending already shows the person.

Here, chceme means we want:

• chci = I want
• chceš = you want
• chce = he/she/it wants
• chceme = we want

So we is built into chceme. You could add my for emphasis, but it is not necessary.

Here před means before in a time sense.

When před is used like this, it takes the instrumental case:

• před odpovědí = before the answer / before answering

This is different from English, where we often use a clause or a gerund:

• before answering
• before we answer

Czech can express that idea with a noun phrase.

Because after před in this meaning, the noun must be in the instrumental singular.

The base form is:

• odpověď = answer

Its instrumental singular is:

• odpovědí

So:

• před odpovědí = before the answer / before answering

This ending is normal for many feminine nouns of this type.

It can function as either, depending on context.

Literally, odpověď is a noun meaning answer, so před odpovědí is literally before the answer. But in natural English, we would often translate it more smoothly as before answering.

So in this sentence, the sense is:

• Before answering, we want to consult.

This is a very common difference between Czech and English: Czech often uses a noun where English prefers a verbal form like answering.

Poradit se means to consult, to confer, or to discuss something with someone before deciding.

It is a reflexive verb:

• poradit se

In this sentence, it means that the speakers want to talk it over first before giving an answer.

A useful point:

• poradit without se usually means to advise or sometimes to manage
• poradit se means to consult

So the se is important.

Because se is a clitic, and Czech clitics usually go in the second position in the clause, not necessarily right next to the infinitive they belong to.

In this sentence:

• Před odpovědí is the first chunk
• se comes next, in second position
• then chceme poradit

So:

• Před odpovědí se chceme poradit.

If the sentence started with Chceme, then the normal order would be:

• Chceme se poradit před odpovědí.

This second-position rule is one of the trickier parts of Czech word order.

Because Czech uses chtít + infinitive just like English uses want + to + verb.

So:

• chceme = we want
• poradit se = to consult

Together:

• chceme se poradit = we want to consult

Only the first verb is conjugated; the second stays in the infinitive.

Poradit se is the perfective form, while radit se is the imperfective form.

In this sentence, poradit se fits well because the idea is:

• we want to consult once,
• reach a result,
• and then answer.

So it presents the consultation as a single, complete action before another action.

Very roughly:

• radit se = to be consulting / to consult as a process
• poradit se = to consult and complete that consultation

Learners do not need to over-translate this every time, but that is the aspectual difference behind the choice.

Yes. A very natural alternative is:

• Než odpovíme, chceme se poradit.
• Before we answer, we want to consult.

This version uses a full clause:

• než = before
• odpovíme = we answer / we will answer

The original sentence,

• Před odpovědí se chceme poradit, is slightly more compact and noun-based.

Both are natural; they just package the idea differently.

Not completely. Czech word order is flexible, but changing it changes emphasis and also affects where clitics go.

For example:

• Před odpovědí se chceme poradit.
• Chceme se před odpovědí poradit.

Both are possible. The original sentence puts before answering first, which gives that time phrase some emphasis.

What is not random is the position of se: it still follows the usual clitic-placement rules.