Disclosed are (A) a liquid crystalline compound of the general formula: ##STR1## wherein X.sub.1 stands for a hydrogen atom, cyano group, a halogen atom, or an alkyl group with 1-20 carbon atoms, and one or more methylene groups in the alkyl group may be replaced by --CH.dbd.CH--, --.tbd.C--, or oxygen atoms and one or more hydrogen atoms may be substituted by halogen atoms; X.sub.2 stands for a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group with 1-10 carbon atoms, or a substituent of --(A.sub.4 --Z.sub.4).sub.s --A.sub.6 --X.sub.3 ; l, m, n and s each stands for an integer of 0 or 1, and p, and q each stands for an integer of 0-5; X.sub.3 for an alkyl group with 1-10 carbon atoms; Z.sub.1 -Z.sub.4 each independently stands for a covalent bond or an alkylene group with 1-5 carbon atoms, and one or more methylene groups in the alkylene group may be replaced by --CH.dbd.CH--, --C.tbd.C--, or an oxygen atom and one or more hydrogen atoms i the alkylene group may be substituted by halogen atoms; the ring A.sub.1 -A.sub.6 each independently stands for a 1,4-phenylene, a 1,4-cyclohexenylene, or a trans-1,4-cyclohexylene, and the carbon atoms in the ring may be replaced by nitrogen atoms or oxygen atoms and the hydrogen atoms in the ring may be substituted by halogen atoms or cyano groups; and B.sub.1 and B.sub.2 each independently stands for --CH.dbd.CH-- or --C.tbd.C--, with the proviso that both of B.sub.1 and B.sub.2 should not be --CH.dbd.CH-- at the same time, (B) a liquid crys-line composition comprising at least one liquid crystalline compound of the general formula (1), and (C) a liquid crystal display element wherein the composition (B) is used. The liquid crystalline compounds of the present invention are distinguished by their characteristics of steep threshold voltage, an adequate magnitude of values in optical or dielectric anisotropy, an extremely high ratio of elastic constants and low viscosity in addition to good compatibility with other liquid crystalline compounds.