A chemically amplified positive resist composition comprising at least one basic compound of the following general formula (1) or (2):wherein R1, R2, R3, R7, and R8 are independently normal, branched or cyclic alkylene groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, R4, R5, R6, R9, and R10 are independently hydrogen, alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms or amino groups, R4 and R5, R5 and R6, R4 and R6, or R8, R5 and R5, and R9 and R10, taken together, may form a ring, letters k, m and n are integers of 0 to 20, with the proviso that hydrogen is excluded from R4, R5, R6, R9 and R10 when k, m or n is equal to 0.The resist compositions of the present invention are effective for preventing resist films from thinning and for increasing the focus margin of an isolated pattern.