Learn Hardcore Czech: Jdu do práce, i když jsem unavený. - I go to work, even though I am tired.

Jdu – I am going / I go (1st person singular of jít – to go on foot, one specific trip)
do – to / into (a preposition that normally takes the genitive case)
práce – work (here: to work = to my workplace / to my job; form is genitive singular)
i když – even though / although (literally something like even when)
jsem – I am (1st person singular of být – to be)
unavený – tired (adjective, masculine form)

So the sentence is: I’m going to work, even though I am tired.

Why is there no separate word for I in Jdu? Why don’t we say Já jdu?

In Czech, the verb ending already shows the subject, so the pronoun is usually dropped:

jdu = I go / I am going
jdeš = you (sg.) go / are going
jde = he / she / it goes / is going

Because -u on jdu clearly marks 1st person singular, you normally don’t need já.

You can say Já jdu do práce, but:

It sounds more emphatic, like “I am going to work (as opposed to someone else)”.
In neutral everyday speech, just Jdu do práce is more natural.

What’s the difference between jdu, chodím, and půjdu?

All relate to going (on foot), but they differ in aspect and meaning:

jdu do práce
= I’m going to work (now / on this specific occasion).
One concrete, current movement.
chodím do práce
= I (usually) go to work / I go to work regularly.
Repeated or habitual action.
půjdu do práce
= I will go to work.
One specific future action (later, not now).

So:

Use jdu for now / this time.
Use chodím for generally / usually.
Use půjdu for later (future).

Why is it do práce and not something like na práci? What case is práce in?

The preposition do means to / into and it always requires the genitive case.

práce is the noun práce (work, job).
- Nominative singular: práce
- Genitive singular: práce (same form, but different function)

So in do práce, práce is genitive singular, required by do.

Why do práce?

do práce = to (my) workplace / to my job – physically going there.
na práci would mean onto the work / for the work and sounds wrong in this context; na with práce is used in other expressions (e.g. chuť na práci – appetite for work), but not for going to work.

Also, Czech has no articles, so práce can mean work / a job / the job depending on context.

What exactly does i když mean, and how is it different from just když?

když by itself usually means:
- when: Když přijdu domů, najím se. – When I come home, I’ll eat.
- sometimes if (in certain contexts).
i když means even though / although and introduces a contrast or concession:
- Jdu do práce, i když jsem unavený.
  I’m going to work, even though I’m tired.

Literally:

i adds the sense of even.
když is when.

Together: i když ≈ even when, used idiomatically as even though / although.

You generally cannot drop i here; Jdu do práce, když jsem unavený. would mean something like I go to work when I’m tired, which is a different meaning.

Why is there a comma before i když?

In Czech punctuation, subordinate clauses are usually separated by a comma from the main clause.

Main clause: Jdu do práce – I’m going to work.
Subordinate clause (introduced by i když): i když jsem unavený – even though I am tired.

Because i když starts a subordinate clause, we put a comma before it:

Jdu do práce, i když jsem unavený.

This is true even if English might not always put a comma in the equivalent sentence.

Why is it unavený and not something like unavená or unavené?

Unavený / unavená / unavené are forms of the adjective unavený (tired) agreeing with the gender and number of the subject.

unavený – masculine singular (e.g. a man)
unavená – feminine singular (e.g. a woman)
unavené – neuter singular OR feminine/neutral plural, depending on context

In Jdu do práce, i když jsem unavený, the implied subject is já (I), and it is understood as masculine. So a man would say:

Jdu do práce, i když jsem unavený.

A woman would say:

Jdu do práce, i když jsem unavená.

Czech adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun (or pronoun) they describe.

Can I change the word order to I když jsem unavený, jdu do práce? Is there any difference?

Yes, that word order is perfectly correct:

I když jsem unavený, jdu do práce.

Both:

Jdu do práce, i když jsem unavený.
I když jsem unavený, jdu do práce.

mean I’m going to work, even though I’m tired.

The difference is mainly in emphasis and rhythm:

Starting with I když jsem unavený highlights the contrast first:
- Even though I’m tired, I’m (still) going to work.
Starting with Jdu do práce is a bit more neutral, giving the main action first and then adding the contrast.

Both are natural Czech.

Does Jdu do práce mean “I’m going to my workplace” or “I’m going to do some work”? How would I say “I’m going to work (to do something)”?

Jdu do práce almost always means:

I’m going to my workplace / job.

It’s about going to the place where you work.

If you want to say I’m going to work (do some work now), you’d normally phrase it differently, for example:

Jdu pracovat. – I’m going to work (I’m going to do work).
Jdu něco dělat. – I’m going to do some work / do something.
Jdu si sednout k práci. – I’m going to sit down to my work. (more specific)

So:

Jdu do práce = to the job/place.
Jdu pracovat = to do work (activity).

What tense and aspect are jdu and jsem unavený? Are they both present tense?

Yes, both verbs here are present tense:

jdu – present tense of jít (I am going, I go [now]).
jsem – present tense of být (I am).

Aspect-wise:

jdu describes an action happening now / in progress (one concrete movement).
jsem unavený is a state in the present.

So the whole sentence is about the present situation:

Right now, I am tired, but I’m going to work anyway.

How do I pronounce Jdu do práce, i když jsem unavený?

Rough phonetic guide (approximate English-like transcription):

Jdu – [ydoo]
- j like English y in yes
- d as in dog
- u like oo in food
  (The jd cluster is pronounced together: jdu ≈ ydoo)
do – [do]
- o like o in not (but a bit shorter/cleaner)
práce – [pra:tse]
- prá – p
  - rolling/ tapped r, á = long a (like aa in father)
- ce – c = ts, e like e in bed
  So: prá-tse
i – [i]
- like ee in see but shorter
když – [gdish]
- k like k
- d as in dog (the kd cluster is smooth)
- y = i sound like bit / see (between them)
- ž is like s in measure, vision (English zh sound)
jsem – [ysem]
- j = y, s as in see, e like bed, m as in man
unavený – [oonavehnee]
- u like oo in food
- na like nah
- ve like veh
- ný – n
  - long í like ee in see

Spoken naturally, the sentence flows together:

Jdu do práce, i když jsem unavený. ≈ Ydoo do pra-tse, ee gdysh ysem oonavehnee.

Is there any difference in style or politeness if I say Jdu do práce, i když jsem unavený? Are there alternative ways to phrase it?

The sentence Jdu do práce, i když jsem unavený. is neutral, everyday Czech. It’s fine in both casual and relatively formal contexts.

Some alternatives with slightly different nuance:

Půjdu do práce, i když jsem unavený.
– I will go to work, even though I’m tired. (future action)
Stejně jdu do práce, i když jsem unavený.
– I’m going to work anyway, even though I’m tired. (stronger “anyway”)
Musím jít do práce, i když jsem unavený.
– I have to go to work, even though I’m tired. (adds obligation)

Formally, you could also change the verb a bit:

Odcházím do práce, i když jsem unavený.
– I’m leaving for work, even though I’m tired. (slightly more formal / descriptive)

But your original sentence is very natural and common.