To provide a new cyclohexane compound that can form a liquid-crystalline composition with improved response speed, by blending the compound with a nematic liquid crystal or the like.

The new cyclohexane compound represented by general formula (1) and a liquid-crystalline composition containing the compound are synthesized, thereby improving the response speed of the stable liquid-crystalline composition, (where in the formula: R₁ and R² represent the same or different R, ROCO or RCOO, R indicates an alkyl group, and the alkyl group may have an unsaturated bond; -CH₂-, -O-, -CO- or -COO- may substitute in the group; also part or all hydrogen atom(s) may be replaced with a halogen atom or a cyano group), X and Y each independently represent a halogen atom or a hydrogen atom, provided that both are not hydrogen atoms at the same time or/and X represents an oxygen atom and Y represents direct bond to the oxygen atom.