Liquid crystal display device

A liquid crystal display device comprising:

• a first substrate on which a picture element electrode is provided for each picture element;
• a second substrate placed to face the first substrate, the second substrate having a common electrode provided thereon;
• a liquid crystal with negative dielectric anisotropy contained between the first and second substrates;
• alignment films respectively covering surfaces of the picture element electrode and the common electrode;
• and
• alignment control structures for controlling directions of alignment of liquid crystal molecules, the alignment control structures being provided on at least one of the first and second substrates,
• wherein the alignment control structures are first slits provided in the picture element electrode and protrusions provided on the common electrode, a distance between at least one first slit and at least one protrusion being 10 to 25 μm,
• the second substrate is subjected to alignment treatment in only regions substantially directly facing the first slits, and
• when a voltage applied to the picture element electrode changes from a first voltage to a second voltage, transmittance increases to maximum transmittance with a change in a state of alignment of liquid crystal molecules and then decreases to transmittance in a stable state corresponding to the second voltage.