A liquid crystal display element which is composed of a TN liquid crystal cell containing nematic liquid crystal of positive dielectric anisotropy and an N type dye having the same long molecular axes as the liquid crystal and polarizing plates respectively disposed opposite both side plates of the liquid crystal cell. The polarizing plates each have the direction of polarization substantially parallel to the orientation of molecules of the liquid crystal near the side plate of the liquid crystal which each polarizing plate confronts, and one of the polarizing plates is a color polarizing plate.