A recording liquid comprising a coloring agent and water, wherein the recording liquid contains a polyol (A) having a solubility in water at 20°C of 0.2 wt.% or more and not more than 4.5 wt.%, and at least one compound (B) selected from a group consisting of compound represented by formula (1) R 1 ,R 2 ,R 3 · N→O (where R 1 and R 2 are an alkyl group or a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and R 3 is an alkyl group or an alkenyl group having 10 to 20 carbon atoms ), and of compound represented by formula (2) represented by R 4 ,R 5 ,R 6 · N―CH 2 ―CO―O - (where R 4 and R 5 are an alkyl group or hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and R 6 is an alkyl group or alkyl group derived from cocoanut oil having 10 to 16 carbon atoms that may contain an amide group). The recording liquid shows synergistic effect including a high permeability with modified penetrating property capable of eliminating an increase in optical density at the backside-surface of the printing medium, anti-color bleeding property, and an effect on reduction of blurring of colors, by the combined use of the polyol (A) and compound (B). The polyol (A) has a small molecular weight so that the adsorbing speed onto the surface to be printed is very high, and has a property to render the nitrogen moiety of the compound (B) into positive charge. The compound (B) acts on compound (A) to make it insoluble.