A liquid crystal display device (100) includes a liquid crystal display panel (1) and an illumination element (2), and is capable of switching between: a first mode of displaying in which displaying is performed by using a plurality of color rays emitted from the illumination element; and a second mode of displaying in which the background is allowed to be perceived, with no color rays being emitted from the illumination element. Each pixel is, under the first mode of displaying, capable of switchably presenting a black displaying state with a vertical field being generated across the liquid crystal layer (30), a white displaying state with a lateral field being generated across the liquid crystal layer, or a transparent displaying state of allowing the rear face side to be visible in a see-through manner with no voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer, and, under the second mode of displaying, capable of switchably presenting a black displaying state with a vertical field being generated across the liquid crystal layer, a transparent displaying state of allowing the rear face side to be visible in a see-through manner with no voltage being applied to the liquid crystal layer, a white displaying state with essentially only a vertical field being generated across the liquid crystal layer, or an intermediate level displaying state with essentially only a vertical field being generated across the liquid crystal layer.