What does this sentence mean? I can't understand this 求められようと

Question

説明を求められようと、何も言えないのだ。

What does it mean? "Trying to be asked for answers, I can't say anything" looks strange...

Answer 1

説明を求められようと、何も言えないのだ。
Even if [you] demand an explanation, [I] can not say anything.

volitional-form + が/と is a literary way of saying "even if ～" or "regardless of ～". Usually (but not always) there is a comma after the が/と.

Examples on JGram:

• (よ)うが (よ)うと ようが ようと
• (よ)うと～まい, (よ)うが～まい

Of course volitional-form + と can be actual volition followed by a quotative particle, depending on what follows:

説明を求めようと思います。
I think I will demand an explanation.

Answer 2

There is a great page :

japanesetest4you.com/flashcard/learn-jlpt-n1-grammar -you-nimonai
Meaning: even if one tries to do something, it can’t be done

ジェイクを呼ぼうにも声が出なかった。
I tried to call Jake, but my voice was gone.

[ 呼ぼうにも] -- This part feels like the subjunctive of European languages.

• Were I to call Jake ...

• Even if I were to call Jake ...

• Even if I would want to call Jake ...

• Even if I would've wanted to call Jake ...　Try as I might to call Jake ...

When the [1st person] is trying, it's ～しようにも

When the [Another party] is trying/asking, it's ～しようと, ～しようとも, etc. (See Choco-san's link).

e.g. -- どんなに激しく雨が降ろうと、この家の屋根は大丈夫だ。

Answer 3

求められる means sought, (gave) order, request, recommend...
〜ようと means "but". It same as 〜だが, 〜が, 〜ても.
In English, That sentence:

It gave order to explain, but I cannot say nothing.