A log likelihood ratio arithmetic circuit for calculating a log likelihood ratio from information of a coordinate of a reception signal point to be applied to a communication system using a quadrature amplitude modulation method, wherein the circuit limits a scope within which a value of the log likelihood ratio varies corresponding to a position of the reception signal point to a range between adjacent signal points including a hard-decision threshold of a bit, and wherein the value of the log likelihood ratio does not vary outside of the range between the adjacent signal points.