The invention relates to a coal-rock interface identification method, and particularly relates to a method for detecting a coal-rock interface by phased-array ultrasonic imaging. The method is realized by adopting a system for detecting the coal-rock interface on the basis of phased-array ultrasonic imaging. The system consists of a supporting device, a coupling device, an ultrasonic phased-array transducer and an imaging device. The phased-array transducer in water transmits ultrasonic waves to a coal bed, the ultrasonic waves enter the coal bed after being transmitted to a water and coal interface, then the ultrasonic waves are transmitted to the coal-rock interface and returned to the coal bed, and then the ultrasonic waves are returned to the water and received by the phased-array transducer. The thickness of the coal bed is calculated according to parameters such as the transmitting and receiving time difference of the phased-array transducer, and the coal-rock interface can be judged. By utilizing the advantages of the phased-array ultrasonic wave such as good directivity, high energy, high measurement precision and deflection focusing as well as the characteristic of the ultrasonic wave of no scattering in the water, the coal-rock interface can be precisely identified in real time, the method can be used for adjusting the cutting depth of a coal mining machine roller and reducing the residual coal bed, thereby reducing the coal loss to increase the coal exploitation quantity.