What are Open Source LLMs for Mandarin Chinese?
Open source LLMs for Mandarin Chinese are large language models specifically optimized for processing, understanding, and generating Chinese text with native fluency. Using advanced deep learning architectures like Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) and transformer models, they excel at Chinese language tasks including translation, reasoning, coding, and multimodal understanding. These models are trained on massive Chinese language corpora and support various Chinese dialects and contexts. They foster collaboration, accelerate innovation in Chinese NLP, and democratize access to powerful language tools, enabling a wide range of applications from customer service to enterprise AI solutions tailored for Chinese-speaking markets.
Qwen3-235B-A22B
Qwen3-235B-A22B is the latest large language model in the Qwen series, featuring a Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) architecture with 235B total parameters and 22B activated parameters. This model uniquely supports seamless switching between thinking mode for complex logical reasoning and non-thinking mode for efficient dialogue. It demonstrates significantly enhanced reasoning capabilities, superior human preference alignment in creative writing and role-playing, and excels in agent capabilities. The model supports over 100 languages and dialects with strong multilingual instruction following and translation capabilities, making it ideal for Mandarin Chinese applications.
Qwen3-235B-A22B: Premier Multilingual Reasoning with Chinese Excellence
Qwen3-235B-A22B is the latest large language model in the Qwen series, featuring a Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) architecture with 235B total parameters and 22B activated parameters. This model uniquely supports seamless switching between thinking mode (for complex logical reasoning, math, and coding) and non-thinking mode (for efficient, general-purpose dialogue). It demonstrates significantly enhanced reasoning capabilities, superior human preference alignment in creative writing, role-playing, and multi-turn dialogues. The model excels in agent capabilities for precise integration with external tools and supports over 100 languages and dialects with strong multilingual instruction following and translation capabilities, making it exceptional for Mandarin Chinese processing. Priced at SiliconFlow starting from $0.35/M input tokens and $1.42/M output tokens.
Pros
- Exceptional multilingual support with strong Chinese language capabilities across 100+ languages and dialects.
- Dual-mode operation: thinking mode for complex reasoning and non-thinking mode for efficient dialogue.
- Superior human preference alignment for creative Chinese writing and role-playing.
Cons
- Higher computational requirements due to 235B parameter scale.
- Premium pricing tier compared to smaller models.
Why We Love It
- It provides unmatched versatility for Mandarin Chinese applications with seamless mode switching, exceptional multilingual performance, and state-of-the-art reasoning capabilities in a single model.
GLM-4.5
GLM-4.5 is a foundational model specifically designed for AI agent applications, built on a Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) architecture with 335B total parameters. It has been extensively optimized for tool use, web browsing, software development, and front-end development, enabling seamless integration with coding agents. GLM-4.5 employs a hybrid reasoning approach, allowing it to adapt effectively to a wide range of application scenarios—from complex reasoning tasks to everyday use cases, with excellent performance in Chinese language understanding and generation.
GLM-4.5: Ultimate AI Agent Model with Native Chinese Support
GLM-4.5 is a foundational model specifically designed for AI agent applications, built on a Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) architecture with 335B total parameters. It has been extensively optimized for tool use, web browsing, software development, and front-end development, enabling seamless integration with coding agents such as Claude Code and Roo Code. GLM-4.5 employs a hybrid reasoning approach, allowing it to adapt effectively to a wide range of application scenarios—from complex reasoning tasks to everyday use cases. With native Chinese language optimization from Zhipu AI and Tsinghua University, it excels in Mandarin Chinese understanding, generation, and agent-based tasks. Available on SiliconFlow at $0.5/M input tokens and $2/M output tokens.
Pros
- Purpose-built for AI agent applications with extensive tool integration.
- Native Chinese language optimization from Chinese research institutions.
- Hybrid reasoning approach for versatility across task complexities.
Cons
- Largest parameter count may require significant computational resources.
- Primarily optimized for agent tasks rather than general chat.
Why We Love It
- It combines native Chinese language expertise with cutting-edge agent capabilities, making it the ideal choice for building sophisticated Chinese-language AI applications and autonomous coding agents.
DeepSeek-V3
DeepSeek-V3 (DeepSeek-V3-0324) utilizes a powerful MoE architecture with 671B total parameters. The new V3 model incorporates reinforcement learning techniques from the DeepSeek-R1 training process, significantly enhancing its performance on reasoning tasks. It has achieved scores surpassing GPT-4.5 on evaluation sets related to mathematics and coding. Additionally, the model has seen notable improvements in tool invocation, role-playing, and casual conversation capabilities, with excellent support for Chinese language processing.
DeepSeek-V3: GPT-4.5-Level Performance for Chinese Language Tasks
The new version of DeepSeek-V3 (DeepSeek-V3-0324) utilizes the same base model as the previous DeepSeek-V3-1226, with improvements made only to the post-training methods. The new V3 model incorporates reinforcement learning techniques from the training process of the DeepSeek-R1 model, significantly enhancing its performance on reasoning tasks. It has achieved scores surpassing GPT-4.5 on evaluation sets related to mathematics and coding. Additionally, the model has seen notable improvements in tool invocation, role-playing, and casual conversation capabilities. With 671B MoE parameters and excellent Chinese language support, it delivers exceptional performance on Mandarin Chinese tasks. Available on SiliconFlow at $0.27/M input tokens and $1.13/M output tokens.
Pros
- Performance surpassing GPT-4.5 on math and coding benchmarks.
- Advanced reinforcement learning techniques from DeepSeek-R1.
- Significant improvements in tool invocation and conversational capabilities.
Cons
- Massive 671B parameter architecture requires substantial infrastructure.
- Higher latency compared to smaller models for simple tasks.
Why We Love It
- It delivers GPT-4.5-surpassing performance with exceptional Chinese language capabilities, making it the powerhouse choice for demanding Mandarin Chinese reasoning and coding applications.
Mandarin Chinese LLM Comparison
In this table, we compare 2025's leading open source LLMs for Mandarin Chinese, each with unique strengths. Qwen3-235B-A22B offers unmatched multilingual versatility with dual-mode reasoning, GLM-4.5 excels in AI agent applications with native Chinese optimization, and DeepSeek-V3 delivers GPT-4.5-surpassing performance. This side-by-side view helps you choose the right tool for your specific Chinese language AI goals. Pricing shown reflects SiliconFlow rates.
| Number | Model | Developer | Subtype | Pricing (SiliconFlow) | Core Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Qwen3-235B-A22B | Qwen3 | Multilingual Reasoning | $0.35-$1.42/M tokens | 100+ languages with dual-mode reasoning |
| 2 | GLM-4.5 | Zhipu AI | AI Agent & Reasoning | $0.5-$2/M tokens | Native Chinese agent optimization |
| 3 | DeepSeek-V3 | DeepSeek AI | Advanced Reasoning | $0.27-$1.13/M tokens | GPT-4.5-surpassing performance |
Frequently Asked Questions
Our top three picks for 2025 are Qwen3-235B-A22B, GLM-4.5, and DeepSeek-V3. Each of these models stood out for their exceptional Chinese language capabilities, innovation in MoE architectures, and unique approaches to solving challenges in Mandarin Chinese understanding, reasoning, and generation.
Our in-depth analysis shows several leaders for different needs. Qwen3-235B-A22B is the top choice for multilingual applications requiring both Chinese and other languages with flexible reasoning modes. For AI agent applications and coding tasks in Chinese, GLM-4.5 is the best with its native optimization and tool integration. For maximum reasoning performance in Chinese mathematics and coding, DeepSeek-V3 delivers GPT-4.5-surpassing results.