A titanium carbonitride (TiCN) coating was deposited on YT14 cutting tool by using a CAIP (cathodic arc ion plating). The surface-interface morphologies, chemical compositions, and phases of TiCN coatings were observed by using a FESEM (field emission scanning electron microscopy), EDS (energy dispersive spectroscopy), XRD (X-ray diffraction), respectively, and the bonding energy, surface roughness, and bonding strength were characterized with an XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy), AFM (atomic force microscope), and scratch test, respectively. The results show that the phases of the TiCN coating are primarily composed of TiN, TiC, and amorphous C, of which the TiC and TiN increases the coating hardness, and the amorphous C atom improves friction and lubrication properties of the coating. The effect of CAIP on the topography of the TiCN coating is at nano-scale, the Ti and N atoms are enriched in the coating at the bonding interface, and the part of chemical elements are diffused in the gradual transformation layer. The bonding form of the TiCN coating interface is primarily composed of mechanical combination, accompanying with slight metallurgical combination, and the bonding strength is characterized with 60.85 N by scratch test.