Learn Hardcore Czech: Ona mi říká, že se trochu bojí, protože projekt je dlouhý a náročný. - She tells me that she is a bit afraid, because the project is long and demanding.

Czech normally drops subject pronouns (like ona, on, oni) because the verb ending already shows the person.
Ona mi říká… puts extra emphasis on ona — a bit like English “SHE is telling me…” (as opposed to someone else).

So:

Říká mi, že… = neutral “She tells me / She is telling me that…”
Ona mi říká, že… = “SHE is telling me that…”, stressing who it is.

Why is it mi and not mě after říká?

Mi and mě are both forms of já (I/me), but they are different cases.

Mi = dative (to me / for me)
Mě = accusative or genitive (me as a direct object or after some prepositions)

The verb říkat (to say, to tell) works like:

říkat něco někomu = to say/tell something to someone
- něco (something) = direct object (accusative)
- někomu (to someone) = indirect object (dative)

In your sentence the direct object is the whole že‑clause:

říká (co?) → že se trochu bojí (that she is a bit afraid)
říká (komu?) → mi (to me)

So you need the dative → mi, not mě.

Can I change the word order Ona mi říká to Ona říká mi?

Ona říká mi is grammatically possible but sounds unusual and very marked.

Natural options are:

Říká mi, že… (most neutral)
Ona mi říká, že… (emphasizes ona)
Mi říká, že… (strong focus on mi, often in contrast: Mně to říká, ale jim ne.)

The unstressed pronoun mi is a clitic: it prefers to stand early in the sentence, usually right after the first stressed word. Ona říká mi violates that preference and feels awkward in normal speech.

Why is it říká and not a past or future form like řekla or řekne?

Říká is present tense, imperfective, roughly matching English “tells” / “is telling”.

říkat (imperfective) – ongoing / repeated action
- říká = she tells / she is telling / she keeps saying
říct / říkat si (perfective říct) – single, completed act
- řekla = she said (one completed event)
- řekne = she will say

So:

Ona mi říká, že… = she (regularly / now) tells me that…
Ona mi řekla, že… = she told me (once, finished) that…
Ona mi řekne, že… = she will tell me that…

What is the role of že in říká, že se trochu bojí? Can I leave it out like English often leaves out “that”?

In Czech, you normally must use že to introduce a content clause after říkat, myslet si, vědět, etc.

Ona mi říká, že se trochu bojí. ✅
Ona mi říká, se trochu bojí. ❌ (incorrect)

English can say:

She tells me that she is a bit afraid.
She tells me she is a bit afraid.

Czech does not drop že in this way; it behaves more like obligatory “that.”

Why is it že se trochu bojí and not že bojí se trochu? Where does se have to go?

The reflexive clitic se follows special word‑order rules: it tends to stand right after the first stressed element of its clause and before the finite verb if possible.

Natural orders include:

že se trochu bojí (very common, neutral)
že se bojí trochu (okay, but trochu is more strongly emphasized)
že trochu se bojí (possible, but now trochu is strongly contrasted/focused)

Že bojí se trochu is not natural in modern standard Czech. The usual pattern is:

že + (clitics like se, si, mi, ti, …) + adverbs + verb…

So že se trochu bojí follows a typical clitic-first pattern.

Why do we even need se in bát se / bojí se?

In Czech, bát se is inherently a reflexive verb; it always comes with se:

infinitive: bát se = to be afraid
present: bojím se, bojíš se, bojí se, …

You cannot drop se:

Ona se bojí. ✅
Ona bojí. ❌ (wrong meaning; bát without se is archaic / different)

Also note how the object of fear works:

Bojí se projektu. = She is afraid of the project. (genitive)
Bojí se, protože projekt je… = She is afraid because the project is… (reason given in a clause)

What exactly does trochu do in že se trochu bojí? Could I put it somewhere else?

Trochu means “a little / a bit” and softens bojí.

Different positions, slightly different nuances:

že se trochu bojí – default, she is a bit afraid (neutral).
že se bojí trochu – she is afraid, but only a bit (slightly more focus on “only a little”).
že trochu se bojí – emphasizes trochu (e.g. in contrast: Nebojí se moc, ale trochu se bojí.).

The most natural, everyday choice in your sentence is že se trochu bojí.

Why is there a comma before protože?

Czech normally puts a comma before protože when it introduces a clause of reason:

…bojí, protože projekt je dlouhý a náročný.

Structure:

main clause: (Ona mi) říká, že se trochu bojí
subordinate clause of reason: protože projekt je dlouhý a náročný

In standard writing, you keep the comma before protože almost always. Omitting it is only possible in some very specific, stylistic cases that don’t apply here.

Why do dlouhý and náročný end in -ý? What are they agreeing with?

Dlouhý (long) and náročný (demanding / challenging) are adjectives describing projekt.

projekt is masculine inanimate
in projekt je dlouhý the noun is:
- nominative, singular, masculine inanimate

Adjectives must agree with the noun in gender, number, and case, so they also appear as:

dlouhý – masc. sg. nom.
náročný – masc. sg. nom.

If the noun changed, the endings would change too:

úkol je dlouhý (masc.)
práce je dlouhá (fem.)
cvičení je dlouhé (neut.)

Could I say protože je to dlouhý a náročný projekt instead of protože projekt je dlouhý a náročný?

Yes, that is perfectly natural, and it sounds very idiomatic:

…protože projekt je dlouhý a náročný. ✅
…protože je to dlouhý a náročný projekt. ✅ (also very common)

Subtle differences in feel:

projekt je dlouhý a náročný – states properties of a specific known project.
je to dlouhý a náročný projekt – presents/frames it as “a long and demanding project” (more like labeling or classifying it).

Both convey essentially the same idea here.

Why is there no word for “a” / “the” before projekt?

Czech has no articles like “a/an” or “the”. The noun projekt can mean:

“a project”
“the project”

Which one you choose in English depends on context and what fits naturally. Czech signals definiteness mainly by context, word order, and sometimes demonstratives (e.g. ten projekt = that/the project), not by articles.