The heterocyclic compound of the present invention is represented by general formula (I) and is suitable to forming an optical recording layer in an optical recording medium to which short-wavelength light is applied for recording and playing-back. (In the formula, ring A represents a benzene or naphthalene ring optionally substituted with an alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy or amido group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, a halogen atom, a cyano group, a nitro group, a sulfonyl or sulfinyl group containing a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, or an alkylamino or dialkylamino group wherein each alkyl has 1 to 8 carbon atoms; X represents CRaRb, NY, O, S, or Se atom, wherein Ra and Rb each represent a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, which may be united to form a 3- to 6-membered ring, and Y represents a hydrogen atom or an organic group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms; R1 and R2 each represent independently a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a cyano group, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or an aralkyl group having 7 to 18 carbon atoms; R3 and R4 each represent independently a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or are united to form a heterocycle free from multiple bonds; Y1 represents a hydrogen atom, an organic group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, or a group represented by general formula (II); Anq− represents a q-valent anion; q represents 1 or 2; and p represents a coefficient for satisfying the electric charge neutrality.)