There is provided a water-based ink that can exhibit high gloss on gloss paper and has excellent fixation while maintaining ink reliability such as recovery from clogging, continuous printing stability, and ink storage stability. The water-based ink comprises at least yellow pigment-containing polymer particles A and pigment-free polymer particles B. The polymer particles A are formed of a water insoluble vinyl polymer produced by polymerizing a specific monomer composition A, and the polymer particles B are formed of a water insoluble vinyl polymer produced by polymerizing a specific monomer composition B and has a minimum film forming temperature of 20.degree. C. or above. The polymer particles B have an average particle diameter of 30 to 60 nm.