Youtai, the Amban of Lhasa, and Colonel Francis Younghusband. Amban (pl: ambasa) is a Manchu word meaning high official, which corresponds to a number of different official titles in the Qing imperial government. For instance, members of the Grand Council were called Coohai nashūn-i amban () in Manchu and Qing governor-generals were called Uheri kadalara amban ().