A water-absorbent sheet structure comprising a structure in which an absorbent layer containing a water-absorbent resin is sandwiched with a hydrophilic nonwoven fabric from an upper side and a lower side of the absorbent layer, characterized in that at least one side of a topside and an underside of the water-absorbent sheet structure is subjected to embossing, and that the water-absorbent sheet structure has the following properties: when a saline solution is allowed to be absorbed in an amount of 4 L per 1 m 2 of the water-absorbent sheet structure (4 L/m 2 ), the water-absorbent sheet structure satisfies both of the following relationships of (A) and (B): (A) an expansion thickness ratio, i.e. T2/T1, of 2 or more, and (B) an expansion embossing depth, i.e. (T2 - t2) / T2, of 0.7 or more, wherein T1 is a thickness (mm) of a water-absorbent sheet structure before absorption of the saline solution； T2 is a thickness (mm) of a water-absorbent sheet structure after absorption of the saline solution； and t2 is an embossing thickness (mm) in the water-absorbent sheet structure after absorption of the saline solution. The water-absorbent sheet structure of the present invention exhibits some effects that a water-absorbent sheet structure has excellent shape retaining ability even when the structure is thin, so that the water-absorbent sheet structure does not undergo deformation of the form before liquid absorption or after the absorption thereof, and is capable of sufficiently exhibiting absorbent properties such as excellent liquid permeability and small liquid leakage.
