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Questions & Answers about Das Bad ist oben.
Why do we use oben here instead of rauf?
oben describes a fixed, static location meaning "upstairs" or "at the top." You use it when there is no movement from one place to another. Since the bathroom is just sitting there, we use oben. Words like rauf are directional and describe the act of moving upwards.
Could I say Das Bad ist rauf if I am pointing up the stairs?
No, that would sound unnatural in German. rauf (like all "r-" words) implies an action or movement towards a destination. Even if you are pointing, the bathroom itself is not moving. For a static location, you must always use oben.
How would I use a directional "r-" word with the bathroom then?
You would use it with a verb of motion. For example, if you want to say "I am going upstairs to the bathroom," you could say Ich gehe rauf ins Bad. Here, you are actively moving upwards, so the directional rauf is the perfect fit.
What is the exact opposite of this sentence if the bathroom is downstairs?
You would say Das Bad ist unten. Just like oben, unten is a static location word. If you were actively walking down the stairs to get to the bathroom, you would switch to the directional equivalent, runter.