An electrooptical display device having, between a pair of electrode plates, a layer of a guest-host, dichroic dye-containing nematic liquid crystal having a positive dielectric anisotropy, wherein optical characteristics of the section of the liquid crystal layer laid between a pair of electrodes formed separately on the electrode plates are made substantially equal, when no voltage is applied between the electrodes, to optical characteristics of the other section of the liquid crystal layer corresponding to the background, thereby providing a good positive display, that is, the formation of a colored display pattern distinctly discernible on a colorless or light-colored background.