Provided are 4-alkynyl imidazole derivatives represented by general formula (I) and pharmacologically permissible salts thereof. The derivatives have excellent EP4 receptor antagonist effects and are useful as medicines for treating diseases associated with EP4 receptors, for example, anti-inflammatory agents and/or analgesics for inflammatory diseases and diseases associated with various kinds of pain, and also as medicines for treating immune diseases that occur as a result of Th1 cell and/or Th17 cell activation, which causes tissue destruction and gives rise to inflammation.