A lube base oil which comprises at least one hydrocarbon compound having as the basic skeleton a structure represented by any of the general formulae (I) to (VI) and has a viscosity at −40° C. of 40 Pa·s or lower and a viscosity index of 80 or higher, (wherein p is an integer of 1 to 10, provided that in the formulae (I) and (II), p is not 1). It satisfies the coefficient of high-temperature traction, low-temperature flowability, and viscosity index on a high level.