The old man sat by the window, slowly sipping his wine.
Tips
register
Literary/written register — you'll meet 呷 in classical-style fiction and tea-culture writing more than in everyday speech. The everyday equivalent is 抿 (mǐn) or simply 喝一小口 (drink a small mouthful). Taiwan reading is xiá; mainland uses xiā.
memory
口 (mouth) + 甲 (jiǎ, phonetic, also 'first/shell'). The mouth radical signals a drinking/eating verb; 甲 lends the sound. Visualize the small armoured mouth taking dainty sips.
