A hot-rolled steel sheet which has a thickness of 3-20 mm and contains specific amounts of C, Si, Mn, P, S, Al and N, with the balance made up of iron and unavoidable impurities. This hot-rolled steel sheet contains a specific amount of solid-solved N, and the contents of C and N satisfy the relation 10C+N≦̸3.0. This hot-rolled steel sheet contains bainitic ferrite and pearlite, respectively in an area ratio of 5% or more and in an area ratio of less than 20% relative to the whole structure, with the balance made up of polygonal ferrite. The average crystal grain size of the bainitic ferrite is 3-50 μm.
