A reciprocating compressor , comprising: a cylinder that defines an inner space; a piston that is located in the inner space of the cylinder and that defines a compression space (P) configured to receive refrigerant; a discharge cover that is coupled to a side of the cylinder and that defines a discharge space (D1) configured to receive refrigerant discharged from the compression space (P); and a valve plate that is located at a side space defined at the side of the cylinder and that partitions the side space into the compression space (P) and the discharge space (D1), wherein the valve plate comprises: a rear surface defining the compression space (P); a front surface defining the discharge space (D1); and a discharge hole formed at the center of the valve plate and penetrating from the rear surface to the front surface , the discharge hole including: an inlet that faces the compression space (P), and one end of the inlet is provided on the rear surface ; and an outlet that faces the discharge space (D1), and one end of the outlet is provided on the front surface and the other end of the outlet is connected to the inlet , characterised in that the inlet and the outlet have different shapes, and wherein the inlet comprises one opening, and the outlet comprises a plurality of discharge ports . a cylinder that defines an inner space; a piston that is located in the inner space of the cylinder and that defines a compression space (P) configured to receive refrigerant; a discharge cover that is coupled to a side of the cylinder and that defines a discharge space (D1) configured to receive refrigerant discharged from the compression space (P); and a valve plate that is located at a side space defined at the side of the cylinder and that partitions the side space into the compression space (P) and the discharge space (D1), wherein the valve plate comprises: a rear surface defining the compression space (P); a front surface defining the discharge space (D1); and a discharge hole formed at the center of the valve plate and penetrating from the rear surface to the front surface , the discharge hole including: an inlet that faces the compression space (P), and one end of the inlet is provided on the rear surface ; and an outlet that faces the discharge space (D1), and one end of the outlet is provided on the front surface and the other end of the outlet is connected to the inlet , characterised in that the inlet and the outlet have different shapes, and wherein the inlet comprises one opening, and the outlet comprises a plurality of discharge ports . a rear surface defining the compression space (P); a front surface defining the discharge space (D1); and a discharge hole formed at the center of the valve plate and penetrating from the rear surface to the front surface , the discharge hole including: an inlet that faces the compression space (P), and one end of the inlet is provided on the rear surface ; and an outlet that faces the discharge space (D1), and one end of the outlet is provided on the front surface and the other end of the outlet is connected to the inlet , characterised in that the inlet and the outlet have different shapes, and wherein the inlet comprises one opening, and the outlet comprises a plurality of discharge ports . an inlet that faces the compression space (P), and one end of the inlet is provided on the rear surface ; and an outlet that faces the discharge space (D1), and one end of the outlet is provided on the front surface and the other end of the outlet is connected to the inlet , characterised in that the inlet and the outlet have different shapes, and wherein the inlet comprises one opening, and the outlet comprises a plurality of discharge ports . <EOS>