PURPOSE: To obtain heat-sensitive recording paper whose colored image is stable even if fat or oil adheres thereto and which is suitable for high-density, high- speed recording, by providing a color-forming layer comprising a specified basic colorless dye, a sensitizer, and a developer of a monophenol 4-hydroxyphenyl compound.

CONSTITUTION: A basic colorless dye, 1W10pts.wt. (per pt.wt. dye) sensitizer, and 3W10pts.wt. developer are pulverized in a ball mill or the like together with a binder and the like and mixed to obtain a coating liquid, which is applied to paper or the like to obtain intended recording paper. The basic colorless dye includes a 3-(substituted amino)-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran compound shown by formula I , wherein X1 is shown by formulae II (wherein R1 and R2 are each alkyl, cyclohexyl, or the like, with the proviso that the sum of the number of C's of R1 and R2 is 8 or less), III, IV, or the like; and X2 is H or Cl. The sensitizer includes dibenzyl terephthalate. The developer includes a monophenol 4-hydroxyphenyl compound.