TiN nanocrystals were successfully prepared through the direct reaction between TiCl4 and NaNH2 induced at 300 degreesC. The yield based on Ti is approximately 80%. X-ray powder diffraction indicated that the product was cubic TiN with a lattice constant of a = 4.243 Angstrom. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that nanocrystalline TiN with a diameter of 10 nm or so and extremely long straight rods were synthesized. The possible formation mechanism was also proposed.