PURPOSE: To obtain the titled compound useful as an intermediate for synthesizing dye, etc. under mild conditions in high yield, by hydrolyzing a m-nitrophenylalkyl ether in the presence of a specific amount of an aqueous solution of a hydrohalogenic acid.

CONSTITUTION: A m-nitrophenylalkyl ether (e.g., m-nitroanisole, m-nitrophenylisopropyl ether, etc.) is hydrolyzed in the presence of ≥25wt%, preferaby 30W 50wt% aqueous solution of hydrohalogenic acid (e.g., HCl, hydrobromic acid, hydroiodic acid, etc.), to give m-nitrophenol. The hydrolysis is carried out at 60W150°C, and at 90W140°C when HCl or hydrobormic acid is used. When the hydrolysis is carried out in this temperature range, HCl inexpensive as an industrial raw material can be used only by slight pressure, and is economically a big merit.