An aqueous ink, by which stable ink-jet recording can be conducted irrespective of printing environment, a substantially even image having abrasion resistance can be formed, no image soiling is caused even upon double-side printing, and a high-quality image improved in unclearness at a contour portion of the image and free from occurrence of color bleed can be provided, is provided. The aqueous ink is an aqueous ink used in a system that a reaction liquid containing at least a polyvalent metal and an aqueous ink containing at least a pigment dispersion, in which a pigment is dispersed with an anionic polymer dispersant, are used to form an image, wherein the aqueous ink satisfies specific condition.