An STN liquid crystal element, formed to sandwich a nematic liquid crystal 6 twist-aligned at an angle ranging from 180 degrees to 270 degrees between a first substrate 1 having a first electrode and a second substrate 2 having a second electrode, is disclosed A polarizing film is disposed outside the second substrate of the STN liquid crystal element through a retardation film or a twisted retardation film, a cholesteric liquid crystal polymer sheet is disposed outside the first substrate through a retardation film for circularly polarized light, and a light absorbing film is disposed outside the cholesteric liquid crystal polymer sheet, to thereby form a liquid crystal display device which enables metallic color display.