Semiconductor light emitting device

A ZnSe based light emitting device enabling longer lifetime is provided. The light emitting device is formed on a compound semiconductor, includes an active layer (4) positioned between an n-type ZnMgSSe cladding layer (3) and a p-type ZnMgSSe cladding layer (5), and has a barrier layer (11) having a band gap larger than that of the p-type ZnMgSSe cladding layer, provided between the active layer (4) and the p-type ZnMgSSe cladding layer (5).