NOVELTY - A cyanine compound (I) is new.    USE - New cyanine compound for use in near-infrared-absorbing materials used in laser-welding resin compositions and film-forming compositions of optical filters used for image display apparatus e.g. plasma display (all claimed), LCD, electroluminescent display, cathode ray tube display apparatus, fluorescent display tube, field emission type display, and electrochromic apparatus. Can also be used for optical absorption agents, optical recording agents of DVD, photosensitizers, dye-sensitized solar cells, photoelectrochemical cells, holograms, organic semiconductors, silver halide photosensitive materials, sensitizers, printing inks, electrophotographic color toners, cosmetics, dyestuffs for proteins, and plastics.    ADVANTAGE - The new cyanine compound provides near-infrared-absorbing materials which show a narrow peak of light absorption in a wavelength of 800-1000 nm, and have excellent light resistance. The cyanine compound can be manufactured economically, has high solubility, and improves display quality of image display apparatus.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A cyanine compound of formula (I), is new.    R1=group of formula (i or ii);    R2-R4,Y1,Y2=group of formula (i or ii), H, 1-20C alkyl, 6-30C aryl, or 7-30C arylalkyl, with alkylene portion of alkyl or arylalkyl being optionally interrupted by -O- or -S-;    R3+R4=alicyclic group of 3-6-membered ring;    An(q-)=q-valent anion;    q=1 or 2;    p=coefficient which keeps electric charge neutral;    R11-R13=H, hydroxy, halo, cyano, diphenylamino, 1-20C alkyl, 6-30C aryl, or 7-30C arylalkyl, with alkylene portion of alkyl or arylalkyl being optionally interrupted by -O- or -S-;    R11+R13=4-8-membered cycloalkene ring in which methylene portion is optionally substituted by hydroxy, halo, cyano, 6-30C aryl, diphenylamino, 1-8C alkyl, or 1-8C alkoxy;    Z1,Z2=1-10C alkyl, 6-20C aryl, 7-20C arylalkyl, nitro, cyano, hydroxy, carboxy, or halo, with H contained in Z1 and Z2 being optionally substituted by nitro, cyano, hydroxy, carboxy, or halo, and methylene being optionally interrupted by -O-, -CO-, -OCO-, or -COO-;    or Z1+Z2=ring;    a,b,w,w'=0-4;    bonding between G and T=double bond, conjugated double bond, or triple bond;    G,G'=carbon;    T=carbon atom, oxygen atom, or nitrogen atom;    x-z=0 or 1;    R01-R04,R'01=H, optionally substituted 1-4C alkyl (in which methylene group is optionally substituted by -O- or -CO-), hydroxy, nitro, cyano, or halo;    R01+R04=cycloalkene ring or heterocyclic ring;    T'=carbon atom or nitrogen atom;and    ring containing G' and T'=5-membered ring optionally containing heteroatom, 6-membered ring optionally containing heteroatom, naphthalene ring, quinoline ring, isoquinoline ring, anthracene ring, or anthraquinone ring (all optionally substituted by halo, hydroxy, nitro, cyano, 1-4C alkyl, or 1-4C alkoxy).    (i) When T is oxygen, y and z are 0; and (ii) When T is nitrogen, y+z is 0 or 1.