Novel liquid crystalline compounds which have a wide temperature range of liquid crystal phase, are excellent in miscibility with other liquid crystalline compounds, have a low viscosity, are low in toxicity, and are safe; liquid crystal compositions comprising the liquid crystalline compound; and liquid crystal display devices fabricated by using the composition are provided; and the compounds are cyclohexane derivatives expressed by the general formula (1) wherein R represents an alkylene chain having 2 to 10 carbon atoms in which alkylene chain ethylene group (—CH2CH2—) may be replaced by ethenylene group (—CH═CH—) or methylenoxy group (—OCH2—); and M represents COOH or CN group.