PURPOSE:To obtain a coating composition capable of imparting excellent printability and printing effects to paper. CONSTITUTION:This paper coating composition contains (I) a pigment, (II) an aqueous binder, (III) a water-soluble resin obtained by reacting at least three components of (a) an alkylendiamine or polyalkylene polyamine with (b) ureas and (c) a compound selected from aldehydes, epihalohydrins and alpha, theta-dihalo-beta-hydrins and (IV) amines selected from >=4C monoamines and diamines and salts thereof. The water-soluble resin of the component (III) may-further be a reactional product prepared by reacting a dibasic carboxylic acid-based compound with an alicyclic amine and/or an alicyclic epoxy compound. Paper coated with this composition is excellent in ink receptivity and water resistance.