“Hot & Cold” by Kai, Seulgi, Jeno, and Karina is a refreshing pop-dance track that explores the magnetic attraction between two people with opposing personalities. The song compares their differing romantic approaches to temperature one is as passionate as summer, while the other is as cool as winter.

Song Credits

  • Artist: KAI, SEULGI, JENO, KARINA
  • Album: 2022 Winter SMTOWN : SMCU PALACE
  • Released: December 26, 2022
  • Length: 3:28
  • Label: SM Entertainment
  • Lyrics: Choi Ji-yoon
  • Composition: G’harah “PK” Degeddingseze, Carmen Reece, Andre Merritt, and Steve Octave

KAI, SEULGI, JENO, KARINA “Hot & Cold” Stage Video

KAI, SEULGI, JENO, KARINA “Hot & Cold” Lyrics

Hangul

차가워 애매하게 굴어 정말 넌
Tired of it 어렵지
읽으려 해도 읽지 못해 what you want
여전히 엇갈리지

Hot and cold, 너와 내 온도차
뜨거운 나와 달리 넌 좀 cold
Black and white, 그보다 선명한
극과 극인 것만 같은 너

Baby, you are so cold
So cold, so cold
Baby, I’m not so cold
So cold, so cold

상냥한 concept과는 거리가 멀지
Can’t be sweet, ayy, 서툴지
늘 가벼운 태도보다 뭐든 신중히, yeah
고민하지, yeah, not like kids, yeah

Hot and cold, 그래서 끌려 난
한여름 내리쬐는 해처럼
좀 더 확신을 넌 주잖아 (Ah-ah-ah, ah)
섬세하게 느껴, that’s your point

Baby, you are so cold
So cold, so cold
Baby, I’m not so cold
So cold, so cold

따뜻한 그 coffee 위의 ice cream
너와 나를 보는 듯한 느낌
어쩜 우린 스며들고 있지
해변가에 내린 흰 눈같이
서로를 감싸 안아 황홀하지
완벽해질 너와 나의 그림

You so cold, 매일 애타게 break the ice
Make it steam, 불을 조금씩 지펴 난
더 좁혀 지금 우리 온도차 최대야
I just freeze, 이 특별한 formula
You so tricky, so tricky, 또 그래서 더
이 작은 차이도 흥미로워
1부터 모든게 새로워
So cold, you so cold, you so cold, you so cold

얼어붙어 버린 날 자 천천히 더 녹여봐
난 simple 한 게 좋아 can’t lie
You so cold, you so cold
You so cold, you so cold

Baby you are (Love) so cold
So cold, so cold (Hey baby, yeah)
Baby, I’m not So cold
So cold, so cold (Woo)

해변가에 내린 흰 눈같이
서로를 감싸 안아 황홀하지
완벽해질 너와 나의 그림
(Hey) 한겨울에 즐긴 surfing 같이
맘껏 즐겨 때론 짜릿하지
적당한 우리의 온도 차이

Romanized

Chagawo aemaehage gureo jeongmal neon
Tired of it eoryeopji
Ilgeuryeo haedo ilji mothae what you want
Yeojeonhi eotgalliji

Hot and cold, neowa nae ondocha
Tteugeoun nawa dalli neon jom cold
Black and white, geuboda seonmyeonghan
Geukgwa geugin geonman gateun neo

Baby, you are so cold
So cold, so cold
Baby, I’m not so cold
So cold, so cold

Sangnyanghan conceptgwaneun georiga meolji
Can’t be sweet, ayy, seotulji
Neul gabyeoun taedoboda mwodeun sinjunghi, yeah
Gominhaji, yeah, not like kids, yeah

Hot and cold, geuraeseo kkeullyeo nan
Hanyeoreum naerijjoeneun haecheoreom
Jom deo hwaksineul neon jujana (Ah-ah-ah, ah)
Seomsehage neukkyeo, that’s your point

Baby, you are so cold
So cold, so cold
Baby, I’m not so cold
So cold, so cold

Ttatteuthan geu coffee wiui ice cream
Neowa nareul boneun deuthan neukkim
Eojjeom urin seumyeodeulgo itji
Haebyeongae naerin huin nungachi
Seororeul gamssa ana hwangholhaji
Wanbyeokaejil neowa naui geurim

You so cold, maeil aetage break the ice
Make it steam, bureul jogeumssik jipyeo nan
Deo jopyeo jigeum uri ondocha choedaeya
I just freeze, i teukbyeolhan formula
You so tricky, so tricky, tto geuraeseo deo
I jageun chaido heungmirowo
1buteo modeunge saerowo
So cold, you so cold, you so cold, you so cold

Eoreobuteo beorin nal ja cheoncheonhi deo nongnyeobwa
Nan simple han ge joa can’t lie
You so cold, you so cold
You so cold, you so cold

Baby you are (Love) so cold
So cold, so cold (Hey baby, yeah)
Baby, I’m not So cold
So cold, so cold (Woo)

Haebyeongae naerin huin nungachi
Seororeul gamssa ana hwangholhaji
Wanbyeokaejil neowa naui geurim
(Hey) hangyeoure jeulgin surfing gachi
Mamkkeot jeulgyeo ttaeron jjarithaji
Jeokdanghan uriui ondo chai

Translation

You act so vague, that’s cold
It’s too much, I’m tired of it
I try to read you, but I can’t
What you want, I still don’t get it

Hot and cold, our blood runs different
Heat in my veins, you’re pretty cold inside
Black and white, even clearer
The contrast between you and me

Baby, you are so cold
So cold, so cold
Baby, I’m not so cold
So cold, so cold

A sweet girl, it’s a concept that’s far from reality
Can’t be sweet (ayy) clumsy
But you never act lightly, yeah
You seriously think through, yeah, not like kids, yeah

Hot and cold, that’s the attraction
Like the midsummer sun you make me feel certain
You make me feel (Ah-ah-ah, ah)
Even the smallest details, that’s your point

Baby, you are so cold
So cold, so cold
Baby, I’m not so cold
So cold, so cold

On my hot coffee, got that ice cream
I feel like that’s us
Maybe we’re slowly being swirled
Like the white snow on the beach
Curling into each other it’s like a dream
It’ll be perfect seeing us together

You so cold, ardently each day break the ice
Make it steam, grow the fire slowly
Closer our distance the temperature gap maxed out
I just freeze, this special formula
You so tricky, so tricky, but then that’s why
Even the smallest changes are exciting
Everything feels so fresh
So cold, you so cold, you so cold, you so cold

Been in the ice for so long
So come on, melt me slowly
I like it simple, can’t lie
You so cold, you so cold
You so cold, you so cold

Baby you are (Love) so cold
So cold, so cold (Hey baby, yeah)
Baby, I’m not So cold
So cold, so cold (Woo)

Like the white snow on the beach
Curling into each other it’s like a dream
It’ll be perfect seeing us together
(Hey) We’re surfing, let’s get into it
It’s amazing how perfect you and I
The hot and the cold are balanced out

KAI, SEULGI, JENO, KARINA “Hot & Cold” Meaning

“Hot & Cold” (온도차) by Kai, Seulgi, Jeno, and Karina is a playful pop-dance song about the attraction between two people with completely different personalities. Using temperature as a metaphor, the track explores how romantic opposites can complement each other and create a unique connection.

At the heart of the song is the contrast between a “hot” personality and a “cold” one. The “hot” partner is passionate, expressive, and confident in showing their feelings, while the “cold” partner appears more reserved, cautious, and emotionally controlled. Rather than creating distance, these differences become the source of the relationship’s excitement and chemistry.

Another major theme is balance. The lyrics suggest that love does not always require two people to be the same. Instead, opposing traits can strengthen a relationship by allowing each person to bring something different to the dynamic. The tension between warmth and coolness creates a magnetic pull that neither person can ignore.

The song’s imagery of melting ice cream and warm coffee symbolizes how these contrasting personalities gradually blend together. Just as different temperatures can create something sweet and enjoyable, the couple learns to understand each other and find harmony despite their differences.