According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting device includes a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer, a light emitting part, and a multilayered structural body. The light emitting part is provided between the first and second semiconductor layers and includes barrier layers and well layers alternately stacked. The multilayered structural body is provided between the first semiconductor layer and the light emitting part and includes high energy layers and low energy layers alternately stacked. An average In composition ratio on a side of the second semiconductor is higher than that on a side of the first semiconductor in the multilayered structural body. An average In composition ratio on a side of the second semiconductor is higher than that on a side of the first semiconductor in the light emitting part.