Electric-spark deposition (ESD) was adopted for depositing a Ti(CN)-based ceramic coating on the TC4 titanium alloy substrate using a laboratory-developed electric-spark deposition system, a nitrogen-sealed atmosphere and graphite electrode. The surface morphology, microstructure, interfacial behavior between the coatings and substrate, phase and element composition of the coatings were investigated by scanning electron microscope(SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). Microhardness profile was measured with a Vickers microhardness tester. The results show that metallurgical bond between the coating and substrate is realized and the phase of coatings are made up of Ti(CN ) spherocrystal and dendritic crystal, TiV and C. Ti(CN) ceramic particles, which is in-situ synthesized by the reaction among titanium from the substrate, carbon from the graphite electrode and nitrogen from the shielding nitrogen gas, is about 600nm and distributes dispersively among the coatings. Microhardness profile falls off with the coatings thickness increasing and the highest microhardness values of the superficial coating could be up to 1496HV, which is six times more than that of the substrate.