To provide a protein target nucleic acid aptamer allowing for detection of a target protein in a living cell, and a method for detecting a target protein.SOLUTION: The protein target nucleic acid aptamer includes: a first oligonucleotide that forms a stem-loop structure and recognizes a fluorescence quencher; a second oligonucleotide located 5' side of the first oligonucleotide; and a third oligonucleotide located on the 3' side of the first oligonucleotide, the second oligonucleotide and the third oligonucleotide cooperates to recognize a target protein. The method for detecting a target protein includes contacting the protein target nucleic acid aptamer with the target protein in the presence of a fluorescent probe including a fluorescent quencher.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1